Information recording device and a method of recording information by setting the recording area based on contiguous data area

ABSTRACT

An information storage medium is designed to assure stable continuous recording without adverse effect, even when many defective areas are present on the information storage medium. To record information onto the information storage medium, a file unit is defined as a first unit. A contiguous data area unit to be treated as a continuous recording area is defined as a second unit. Furthermore, recording is done in the contiguous data area units and a collection of the contiguous data area units is organized into the file unit. In addition, an information recording place is provided in such a manner that the contiguous data area unit is so set that it extends over the recording area of another file already recorded on the information storage medium and a defective area on the information storage medium.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/666,460 filed on Sep. 21, 2000, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

This is a continuation of Application No. PCT/JP99/05096, filed Sep. 20,1999.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromthe prior Japanese Patent Applications No. 10-265270, filed Sep. 18,1998; No. 10-292819, filed Sep. 30, 1998; No. 10-292821, filed Sep. 30,1998; No. 10-292823, filed Sep. 30, 1998; No. 10-292826, filed Sep. 30,1998; and No. 10-292827, filed Sep. 30, 1998, the entire contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an information recording method, aninformation recording device, an information reproducing device, and aninformation storage medium which are suitable for recording varioustypes of information, including video information and/or audioinformation, and further computer data, onto a recording medium.

In the information recording method and device, various types ofinformation are recorded continuously onto an information storage mediumwithout logical intermission. In the information storage medium, therecorded information includes information about a data structure thatenables the recorded information to be managed effectively andreproduced continuously.

There are laser disks (LDs) and digital video (DVD) disks used asinformation storage mediums on which video information or audioinformation has been recorded. The information storage mediums, however,are only for playback use and have no defective area thereon.

There are DVD-RAM disks used as mediums for storing computerinformation. This type of medium enables additional recording. Inaddition, a method of replacing a defective area occurring on theinformation storage medium has been established.

One known method of replacing a defective area occurring in recordingcomputer information on a RAM disk is a linear replacement process.

This process is a method of, when a defect has occurred, securing areplacement area in a spare area secured in another area physicallyseparate from a user area and setting a logical block number (LBN) inthe replacement area. In this method, when a defective area has occurredin the middle of recording or reproducing information onto or from adisk, the optical head has to record the data in the spare area in aphysically separate position and thereafter return to the position whereit interrupted the recording and resume recording the subsequent data.This results in the frequent movement of the optical head.

In the computer system, the control hierarchy is divided into a videorecording and reproducing application software (hereinafter, abbreviatedas recording/reproducing application) layer, a file system layer, and anoptical disk drive (ODD) layer in the section for processing informationand recording and reproducing information.

Commands acting as interfaces have been defined between the layers.Addresses dealt with at each layer differ from one level of hierarchy toanother.

Specifically, the recording/reproducing application layer deals withaudio and video addresses (commonly known as AV addresses), the filesystem layer deals with logical sector numbers (LSN) or logical blocknumbers (LBN) on the basis of AV addresses, and the optical disk drivelayer deals with physical sector numbers (PSN) on the basis of logicalsector numbers (LSN) or logical block numbers (LBN).

Now, consider a case where video information or audio informationaccording to the recording format of a DVD video disk is recorded on aDVD-RAM disk. As described above, when the linear replacement process isperformed as a method of processing (replacing) a defect, each time adefective ECC block is encountered in recording, the head has to moveback and fourth between the user area explained later and the sparearea.

Such frequent access of the optical head in recording permits the amountof video information stored in the buffer memory to exceed the memorycapacity because of the transfer speed and data amount of the inputdata, the access time in recording, the buffer memory capacity, andothers, which makes continuous recording impossible.

Although it is hoped that video information to be recorded is managed inthe video recording and reproducing application software layer withoutthe burden of managing defects on the information storage medium, ifmany defective areas have occurred on the information storage medium, aconventional method permits the influence of defects in the informationstorage medium to extend even to the video recording and reproducingapplication software layer, which makes stable video informationmanagement difficult.

Furthermore, in the case of recordable and reproducible disks, there hasbeen a desire that they should be used for not only AV data but alsovarious types of information recording.

(1) It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide aninformation recording method, an information recording device, aninformation reproducing device, and an information storage medium whichhave specific recording units set therein and enable environmentalsetting to achieve stable video information management (specifically, avideo information recording, reproducing, and editing method in asystem) even if a defective area or another data area exists in thespecific recording units. According to the present invention, there arealso provided an information recording device and an informationreproducing device which have a most suitable system for realizing theabove environment.

(2) Another object of the present invention is to provide an informationrecording method, an information recording device, an informationreproducing device, and an information storage medium which improve themethod of managing AV file identification information to make it easierto identify and manage different types of data.

(3) Another object of the present invention is to provide an informationrecording method, an information recording device, an informationreproducing device, and an information storage medium which maintain theboundary between specific data block units (for example, ECC units)using unused extents, thereby facilitating the error correctionmanagement of data and the additional recording process and managementof subsequent data, when AV data is recorded.

(4) Another object of the present invention is to provide an informationrecording method, an information recording device, an informationreproducing device, and an information storage medium which not onlysearch in advance for a place where AV data is to be recorded to preventdata from being recorded in another data area or a defective area, butalso have the function of securing a recording area to prevent errors inrecording.

(5) Another object of the present invention is to provide an informationrecording method, an information recording device, an informationreproducing device, and an information storage medium which always writedata in, for example, error correction codes (ECC) block units inrecording data in such a manner that they perform reading control at thebeginning of writing, search for the recorded state of the errorcorrection codes, and write data while maintaining the block units ofthe error correction codes, thereby improving the data writingefficiency and assuring the reliability of the error correcting processof data.

(6) Another object of the present invention is to provide an informationrecording method, an information recording device, an informationreproducing device, and an information storage medium which areadditionally provided with a file partial delete command, therebyenabling editing to be done more easily.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing objects are accomplished as follows:

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an information recording method for recording information on aninformation storage medium which has a logical structure in which (i) anAV file is provided to store audio data or video data, (ii) defectivearea management information is provided as information containinginformation of a defective area, (iii) file management information isprovided to manage at least the AV file and file entry information, thefile entry information including at least one allocation descriptor ofextents for data allocation, and (iv) a contiguous data area (CDA) isprovided, wherein the contiguous data area serves as a unit for settingdata allocation, and permits skipping to be performed. The contiguousdata area has a size expressed by the following formula:

CDA≧STR×RTR×(Ta+Tskip+Tpc)/(RTR−STR)

wherein STR is an average transmission rate of a control section, RTR isa physical transmission rate, Ta is an average access time of accessingoperations in each of which reading means accesses a recording area onan information storage medium, Tskip is time required for recording inthe contiguous data area, and Tpc is time required for skipping otherexisting files and defective areas subjected to a linear replacementprocess or skipping replacement process. The information recordingmethod includes the steps of searching for an unrecorded area on theinformation storage medium; setting an area to be recorded in theunrecorded area based on the contiguous data area; setting extentportions in the area to be recorded, in such a manner as to avoid areasother than the AV file; and recording AV data. The data stored in areasother than the AV file is data of a personal computer (PC) file. Theinformation recording medium is preferably configured to store the AVdata and the file management information.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided aninformation recording apparatus for recording information on aninformation storage medium which has a logical structure in which (i) anAV file is provided to store audio data or video data, (ii) defectivearea management information is provided as information containinginformation of a defective area, (iii) file management information isprovided to manage at least the AV file and file entry information, thefile entry information including at least one allocation descriptor ofextents for data allocation, and (iv) a contiguous data area (CDA) isprovided, wherein the contiguous data area serves as a unit for settingdata allocation, and permits skipping to be performed, the contiguousdata area has a size expressed by the following formula:

CDA≧STR×RTR×(Ta+Tskip+Tpc)/(RTR−STR)

where STR is an average transmission rate of a control section, RTR is aphysical transmission rate, Ta is an average access time of accessingoperations in each of which reading means accesses a recording area onthe information storage medium, Tskip is time required for recording inthe contiguous data area, and Tpc is time required for skipping otherexisting files and defective areas subjected to a linear replacementprocess or skipping replacement process. The information recordingapparatus comprises means for searching for an unrecorded area on theinformation storage medium; means for setting an area to be recorded inthe unrecorded area based on the contiguous data area; means for settingextent portions in the area to be recorded, in such a manner as to avoidareas other than the AV file; and means for recording AV data.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there isprovided an information recording medium configured to recordinformation based on (i) an AV file for storing audio data or videodata, (ii) defective area management information containing informationof a defective area, (iii) file management information for managing atleast the AV file and file entry information, the file entry informationincluding at least one allocation descriptor of extents for dataallocation, and (iv) a contiguous data area (CDA), wherein thecontiguous data area serves as a unit for setting data allocation, andpermits skipping to be performed, the contiguous data area has a sizeexpressed by the following formula:

CDA≧STIR×RTR×(Ta+Tskip+Tpc)/(RTR−STR)

where STR is an average transmission rate of a control section, RTR is aphysical transmission rate, Ta is an average access time of accessingoperations in each of which reading means accesses a recording area onthe information storage medium, Tskip is time required for recording inthe contiguous data area, and Tpc is time required for skipping otherexisting files and defective areas subjected to a linear replacementprocess or skipping replacement process.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectsand advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means ofthe instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed outhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments ofthe invention, and together with the general description given above andthe detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a personalcomputer;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the layout of the general contentsof record on in a DVD-RAM disk;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of the lead-inarea on a DVD-RAM disk;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of the lead-outarea on a DVD-RAM disk;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship betweenphysical sector numbers and logical sector numbers;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the signal structure in asector to be recorded in a data area;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the recording unit forinformation to be recorded in a data area;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between zonesand groups;

FIG. 9 is a diagram to help explain a method of setting logical sectorson a DVD-RAM disk;

FIG. 10 is a diagram to help explain a method of replacing a defectivearea in the data area;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of theinformation recording and reproducing section;

FIG. 12 is a diagram to help explain the operation of setting logicalblock numbers at the information recording and reproducing section;

FIG. 13 is a diagram to help explain the operation of processing defectsat the information recording and reproducing section;

FIG. 14 shows an example of a file system recorded on an informationstorage medium according to UDF;

FIG. 15 shows the remaining part of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 roughly shows the basic relationship between the structure ofthe hierarchical file system and the contents of information recorded onthe information storage medium;

FIG. 17 shows an example of the contents of a long allocationdescriptor;

FIG. 18A shows an example of the contents of a short allocationdescriptor;

FIG. 18B shows an example of the contents of the extent length;

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of the contents of an unlocated spaceentry;

FIGS. 20A and 20B are explanatory diagrams showing part of the contentsof file entry;

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing part of the contents of a fileidentification descriptor;

FIG. 22 shows an example of the structure of the file system;

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure on a videorecordable/reproducible information storage medium;

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure in an AVfile recorded on an information storage medium;

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram showing the directory structure of adata file in the data area;

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure in theprogram chain control information;

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of reproducing thevideo information using program chains;

FIG. 28 is a diagram to help explain a method of setting videoinformation recording locations when an unused area is set in an AV fileon the video recording and reproducing application software side;

FIG. 29 shows the relationship between logical block numbers and AVaddresses in an AV file;

FIG. 30 is a diagram to help explain a method of handling data when partof the AV file is deleted in a case where the unused area in the AV fileis managed on the video recording/reproducing application side in eachembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure in thevideo object control information;

FIG. 32 is a conceptual diagram of a recording system to help explainthe continuity of recording signals;

FIG. 33 is a diagram to help explain the state of the amount ofinformation stored in the semiconductor memory when the frequency ofaccess is the highest in the recording system;

FIG. 34 is a diagram to help explain the state of the amount ofinformation stored in the semiconductor memory when there is a balancebetween the video information recording time and the access time in therecording system;

FIG. 35 is an explanatory diagram for comparison between skippingreplacement and linear replacement when the information recording andreproducing device manages defect management information;

FIG. 36 is a diagram to help explain an example of the optical head(pickup) moving over tracks;

FIG. 37 is a diagram to help explain the data structure of defectmanagement information on the information storage medium managed by theinformation recording and reproducing device in each embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 38 is a diagram to help explain the data structure of defectmanagement information on the information storage medium managed by thefile system 2 in each embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 39 is an explanatory diagram for comparison between skippingreplacement and linear replacement in management based on the defectmanagement information of FIG. 38;

FIG. 40 is a flowchart to help explain the procedure for creating areplacement area setting file;

FIG. 41 is a flowchart to help explain a replacing process using thereplacement area setting file;

FIG. 42 is a flowchart to help explain the procedure for creating areplacement area setting file;

FIG. 43 is an explanatory diagram of additional recording videoinformation and an unused area in the contiguous data area in eachembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 44 is an explanatory diagram of the recording location of theinformation length specified for each file and the attribute writinglocation for each extent (implementation use);

FIG. 45 is a diagram to help explain a method of deleting part of an AVfile in each embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 46 is a diagram to help explain another method of deleting part ofan AV file in each embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 47 is a diagram to help explain still another method of deletingpart of an AV file in each embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 48 is a diagram to help explain the contents of the contiguous dataarea boundary position information and its recording location in anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 49 is a diagram to help explain a method of recording dataincluding a defective area in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 50A is a diagram to help explain a method of recording data,avoiding a defective area, in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 50B is a diagram to help explain a method of recording data,avoiding a defective area in another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 51 is a diagram to help explain a method of setting a contiguousdata area and a method of presetting an extent before recording in anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 52 schematically shows the configuration of an informationrecording and reproducing device according to the present invention;

FIGS. 53A, 53B, and 53C are diagrams to help explain the problems ofwrite commands;

FIG. 54 schematically shows the procedure for recording videoinformation by the information recording method of the presentinvention;

FIG. 55 shows the details of step ST01 of FIG. 54;

FIG. 56 shows the details of step ST02 of FIG. 54;

FIG. 57 shows the details of step ST03 of FIG. 54;

FIG. 58 shows the details of step ST04 of FIG. 54;

FIG. 59 is an explanatory diagram showing the location whereidentification information about an AV file according to the presentinvention has been recorded;

FIG. 60 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of thelocation where identification information about an AV file according tothe present invention has been recorded;

FIG. 61 is a conceptual diagram to help explain a method of recordingvideo information continuously according to the present invention;

FIG. 62 is an explanatory diagram of commands used in recordinginformation onto an information storage medium according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 63 is a diagram to help explain a method of recording informationonto an information storage medium according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 64 is a diagram to help explain a method of recording informationonto an information storage medium according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 65 is a diagram to help explain a method of recording informationonto an information storage medium according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 66 is an explanatory diagram of commands used in recordinginformation onto an information storage medium according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 67 is a diagram to help explain a method of recording informationonto an information storage medium according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 68 is a diagram to help explain a method of recording informationonto an information storage medium according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 69 is a diagram to help explain a method of recording informationonto an information storage medium according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 70 shows the procedure for reproducing video information by theinformation recording method according to the present invention;

FIG. 71 shows the procedure for deleting part of an AV file in theinformation recording method and reproducing method according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 72 is a diagram to help explain a recording and deleting methodviewed from a video recording/reproducing application in an embodimentof the information recording method and reproducing method according tothe present invention;

FIG. 73 is a diagram to help explain a case where new information isrecorded in such a manner that it is overwritten from the middle of theexisting contiguous data area in the information recording methodaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 74 is a diagram to help explain a case where new information isrecorded in such a manner that it is overwritten as far as the middle ofthe existing contiguous data area in the information recording methodaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 75 is a diagram to help explain a case where part of an AV file isdeleted in contiguous data area units in the information recordingmethod according to the present invention;

FIG. 76 is a diagram to help explain the process of recording video datain an embodiment of the information recording method according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 77 is a diagram to help explain the process of recording video datain the embodiment of the information recording method according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 78 is a diagram to help explain the process of recording video datain the embodiment of the information recording method according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 79 is a flowchart to help explain the process of creating areplacement-only file in the information recording method according tothe present invention;

FIG. 80 is a flowchart to help explain a replacing process using areplacement-only file in the information recording method according tothe present invention;

FIG. 81 shows the remaining part of the flowchart of FIG. 80;

FIG. 82 shows still another embodiment of the information recordingmethod according to the present invention;

FIG. 83 shows another embodiment of the extent attribute informationrecording method in the information recording method according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 84 shows a package of a disk according to the present invention;

FIG. 85 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between theAV data recording area and ECC blocks recorded by the informationrecording method according to the present invention;

FIG. 86 shows an example of the information recording method accordingto the present invention, specifically an example of data processing atthe beginning of writing;

FIG. 87 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of description ofthe file structure using extents in a file descriptive statement relatedto the information recording method according to the present invention;and

FIG. 88 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of allocating extentsto an unrecorded area by the information recording method according tothe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, referring to the accompanying drawings, embodiments of thepresent invention will be explained.

Table 1 and Table 2 shown at the end of the specification list not onlythe functions necessary in recording audio and video (hereinafter,abbreviated as AV) information onto an information storage medium butalso the expectable effects unique to the present invention.

Table 3 shows the relationship between the application, file system, andoptical disk drive classified in Table 1 and Table 2. The optical diskdrive is abbreviated as the ODD (Optical Disk Drive). The ODD in Table 3is the same as the information recording and reproducing device 140 in,for example, a personal computer (abbreviated as PC) system explainedlater. The programs of the file system and video recording andreproducing application software (abbreviated as recording/reproducingapplication) are generally stored in the hard disk drive (abbreviated asHDD) 121 in, for example, the PC system explained later. The file systemis transferred to a main memory 112 at the time of start-up of apersonal computer (PC) system 110. When the video recording andreproducing application software program is used, therecording/reproducing application program is transferred to the mainmemory 112.

First, the PC system will be explained by reference to FIG. 1. Thereason is that the objects of the present invention are realized usingall or part of the elements constituting the personal computer.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the PC system using an informationreproducing device.

5A ··· Explanation of the Internal Structure of the Personal Computer

5A-1 ··· Explanation of the Data/address Lines Connected Directly to theMain CPU

A main CPU 111 in the personal computer 110 includes memory data lines114 that provide direct input and output of information with the mainmemory 112 and memory address lines 113 that specify the address for apiece of information recorded in the main memory 112. According to theprogram loaded into the main memory 112, the CPU 111 executes processes.Furthermore, the main CPU 111 transfers information via input/output(I/O) data lines 146 to various types of controllers. By addressspecification via I/O address lines 145, the main CPU 111 specifies notonly an information transfer destination controller but also thecontents of the information to be transferred.

5A-2 ··· Explanation of Cathode-ray Tube (CRT) Display Control andKeyboard Control

A liquid-crystal device (LCD) controller 115 that performs displaycontent control of a CRT display 116 exchanges information with the mainCPU 111 via the memory data lines 114. There is further provided a videoRAM 117 as a memory dedicated to the CRT display 116 to realize highresolution and a wide variety of colors in representation. An LCDcontroller 115 is capable of taking in the information directly from themain memory 112 via the memory data lines 114 and displaying theinformation on the CRT display 116. The numeral keypad informationinputted from a keyboard 119 is converted by a keyboard controller 118.The converted information is inputted to the main CPU 111 via I/O datalines 146.

5A-3 ··· Explanation of a Built-in Hard Disk Drive (HDD)/the ControlSystem of the Information Reproducing Device

An IDE interface is often used as an optical information reproducingdevice 122 in an HDD 121 built in the personal computer 110 or a CD-ROMdrive/DVD-ROM drive. The playback information from the HDD 121 orinformation reproducing device 122 or the recording information to theHDD 121 is transferred to the I/O data lines 146 via an IDE controller120.

When the HDD 121 is used as a boot disk, the main CPU 111 accesses theHDD 121 at the start-up of the personal computer system 110 andtransfers the necessary information from the HDD 121 to the main memory112.

6A-4 ··· Explanation of a Serial/parallel Interface (I/F) with theOutside World

Serial lines and parallel lines are provided for information transferwith external units for the personal computer system 110.

A parallel I/F controller 123, represented by “CENTRO”, that controlsthe parallel lines is used when, for example, a printer 124 or a scanner125 are driven directly without using a network. The informationtransferred from the scanner 125 is transferred to the I/O data lines146 via the parallel I/F controller 123. The information transferredover the I/O data lines 146 is transferred to the printer 124 via theparallel I/F controller 123.

For example, when the information in a video RAM 117 displayed on theCRT display 116 or a specific piece of information in the main memory112 is printed out, these pieces of information are transferred to theI/O data lines 146 via the main CPU 111 and thereafter areprotocol-converted by the parallel I/F controller 123. The convertedpieces of information are outputted to the printer 124.

As for serial information outputted to the outside world, theinformation transferred over the I/O data lines 146 isprotocol-converted by a serial I/F controller 130, which then outputsthe resulting signal as, for example, RS-232C signal e.

5A-5 ··· Explanation of Bus Lines for Expanding Functions

The personal computer system 110 has various types of bus lines forexpanding functions. A desktop personal computer often has a PCI bus 133and an EISA bus 126 as bus lines. Each bus line is connected via a PCIbus controller 143 organ EISA bus controller 144 to the I/O data lines146 and I/O address lines 145. various boards connected to the bus linesare divided into boards only for EISA bus 126 and boards only for PCIbus 133. Since the PCI bus 133 is relatively suitable for high-speedtransfer, the number of boards connected to the PCI bus 133 is larger inthe figure. However, use of boards only for EISA bus 126 enables a LANboard 139 or an SCSI board 138 to be connected to the EISA bus 126.

5A-6 ··· Explanation of a Schematic Function of each the BoardsConnected to Bus Lines

(Sound bluster board 127) ··· An audio signal inputted from a microphone128 is converted by a sound bluster board 127 into digital information.The digital information passes through the EISA bus 126 and I/0 datalines 146 and is inputted to the main memory 112, HDD 121, andinformation recording and reproducing device 140, which process theinformation. When wanting to listen to music or speech, the userspecifies the file name recorded in the HDD 121, an HDD 141, theinformation reproducing device 122, or the information recording andreproducing device 140. Then, the digital sound source signal istransferred via the I/O data lines 146 and EISA bus 126 to the soundbluster board 127, which converts the signal into an analog signal andoutputs the resulting signal at a speaker 129.

(Dedicated DSP 137) ··· When a special process needs to be executed athigh speed, a DSP 137 board only for the process can be connected to buslines.

(SCSI interface) ··· A SCSI interface is frequently used for the inputand output of information with an external storage device. The SCSIboard 138 performs protocol conversion or transfer information formatconversion in order to transfer the SCSI format information inputted andoutputted from and to an external storage device, such as an informationbackup MT (magnetic tape) 142, an external stand-alone.HDD 141, or theinformation recording and reproducing device 140, to the PCI bus 133 orEISA bus 126.

(Board only for information compression and expansion) ··· Multimediainformation, including sound, still pictures, and moving pictures, issubjected to information compression. The compressed information isrecorded in the HDDs 121, 141, and information recording and reproducingdevice 140 (information reproducing device 122). The informationrecorded in the HDDs 121, 141, information recording and reproducingdevice 140, and information reproducing device 122 is expanded. Theexpanded information is displayed on the CRT display 116 or is used todrive the speaker 129. In addition, the audio signal inputted from themicrophone 128 is subjected to information compression. The compressedinformation is recorded in the HDDs 121, 141, or information recordingand reproducing device 140.

Various types of dedicated boards are responsible for the function ofcompressing and expanding information. An audio coding/decoding board136 compresses and expands music and speech signals. An MPEG board 134compresses and expands moving pictures (video pictures). A JPEG board135 compresses and expands still pictures.

5B ··· Explanation of Connection of the Personal Computer with anExternal Network

5B-1 ··· Explanation of network connection using telephone lines

When the information needs to be transferred via a telephone line f tothe outside world, a modem 131 is used. Specifically, to connect to thedesired called party by telephone, an NCU (Network Control Unit) (notshown) transmits the called-party's telephone number to the telephoneexchange via the telephone line f. After the telephone line has beenconnected, the serial I/F controller 130 causes transfer informationformat conversion and protocol conversion of the information on the I/Odata lines 146. The resulting digital signal, or RS-232C signal, isconverted by the modem 131 into an analog signal, which is transferredto the telephone line f.

5B-2 ··· Explanation of Network Connection Using IEEE 1394

When multimedia information, including sound, still pictures, and movingpictures, is transferred to an external device (not shown), the IEEE1394 interface is suitable for this purpose.

If the necessary information about moving pictures or sound cannot besent in a specific period of time, the movement of the picture will beawkward or the sound will break off. To solve the problem, IEEE 1394 hasemployed an isochronous transfer method where data transfer is completedat intervals of 125 μs. In IEEE 1394, although the isochronous transferis allowed to mix with normal asynchronous transfer, the upper limit ofthe asynchronous transfer time in one cycle is a maximum of 63.5 μs. Thereason for this is that, if the asynchronous transfer time were toolong, isochronous transfer could not be guaranteed. In IEEE 1394, SCSIcommands (instruction set) can be used as they are.

An IEEE 1394 I/F board 132 subjects the information transmitted over thePCI bus 133 to information format conversion for isochronous transfer,protocol conversion, automatic setting in topology, such as settingnodes, and other processes.

As described above, the IEEE 1394 I/F board 132 not only transfers theinformation in the personal computer system 110 as an IEEE 1394 signal gto the outside world but also converts the IEEE 1394 signal g sent fromthe outside world and transfers the resulting signal to the PCI bus 133.

5B-3 Explanation of Network Connection using LAN

In local area information communication in a specific area, such as acompany, a government office, or a school, LAN signals are inputted andoutputted using LAN cables (not shown).

Communication protocols using LANs include TCP/IP and NetBEUI. Each typeof protocol has its own data packet structure (or information formatstructure). The LAN board 139 causes the information format conversionof the information transferred over the PCI bus 133 and carries out theprocedure process of communication with the outside world according toeach type of protocol.

As an example, explanation will be given about the procedure for a casewhere a specific piece of file information recorded in the HDD 121 isconverted into a LAN signal h and the LAN signal is transferred to anexternal personal computer, EWS, or a network server (not shown) andabout the information transfer route. Under the control of the IDEcontroller 120, the file directory recorded in the HDD 121 is outputted.The main CPU 111 records the resulting file list into the main memory112 and displays the same list on the CRT display 116. When the userenters the file name the user wants to transfer from the keyboard 119,its contents are recognized by the main CPU 111 via the keyboardcontroller 118. When the main CPU 111 informs the IDE controller 120 ofthe file name to be transferred, the HDD judges the information recordedlocation therein and accesses the location. Then, the HDD transfers theplayback information via the IDE controller 120 to the I/O data lines146. After the file information has been inputted from the I/O datalines 146 to the PCI bus controller 143, the file information istransferred via the PCI bus 133 to the LAN board 139. After the LANboard 139 has established a session with the transfer destinationthrough a series of communication procedures, it takes in the fileinformation from the PCI bus 133, converts the information into piecesof information with a data packet structure, and then transfers theresulting signals as LAN signals h to the outside world.

5C ··· Explanation of Information Transfer from the InformationReproducing Device or Information Recording and Reproducing Device(Optical Disk Device)

5C-1 ··· Explanation of Standard Interface and Information TransferRoute

When the information reproducing device 122, a playback-only opticaldisk, such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM, or the information recording andreproducing device, a recordable and reproducible optical disk, such asa DVD-RAM, a PD, or an MD, is incorporated into the personal computer110, IDE, SCSI, and IEEE 1394 are available as standard interfaces.

In general, the PCI bus controller 143 or the EISA bus controller 144has DMA therein. Control of DMA enables information to be transferreddirectly between individual blocks without the intervention of the mainCPU 111.

For example, when the information in the information recording andreproducing device 140 is transferred to the MPEG board 134, the mainCPU 111 only gives a transfer instruction to the PCI bus controller 143and leaves the information transfer management to the DMA in the PCI buscontroller. As a result, in parallel with actual information transfer,the main CPU can execute another process without bothering with theinformation transfer process.

Similarly, when the information recorded in the information reproducingdevice 122 is transferred to the HDD 141, the main CPU 111 only gives atransfer instruction to the PCI bus controller 143 or IDE controller 120and leaves the remaining information transfer management to the defectmanagement area (DMA) in the PCI bus controller 143 or the DMA in theIDE controller 120.

5C-2 ··· Explanation of the Function of Authentication

Although the DMA in the PCI bus controller 143, the DMA in the EISA buscontroller 144, or the DMA in the IDE controller 120 manages theinformation transfer process related to the information recording andreproducing device 140 or information reproducing device 122 asdescribed above, the authentication function section of the informationrecording and reproducing device 140 or information reproducing device122 executes actual transfer processes.

In a DVD system, such as a DVD video, DVD-ROM, or DVD-R, video and audiobit streams are recorded in the MPEG-2 program stream format. The audiostreams, video streams, sub-picture streams, private streams, and othersare recorded in a mixed manner. In reproducing the information, theinformation recording and reproducing device 140 separates and extractsthe audio streams, video streams, sub-picture streams, private streams,and others from a program stream and transfers the extracted streams viathe PCI bus 133 directly to the audio coding/decoding board 136, MPEGboard 134, or JPEG board 135 without the intervention of the main CPU111.

Similarly, the information reproducing device 122 separates and extractsvarious types of stream information from the reproduced program streamand transfers each piece of stream information via the I/O data lines146 and PCI bus 133 directly (without the intervention of the main CPU111) to the audio coding/decoding board 136, MPEG board 134, or JPEGboard 135.

Each of the audio coding/decoding board 136, MPEG board 134, and JPEGboard 135 includes the authentication function as the informationrecording and reproducing device 140 and information reproducing device122 do. Before information transfer, the work of authentication is donevia the PCI bus 133 (and the I/0 data lines 146) between the informationrecording and reproducing device 140 and information reproducing device122 and the audio coding/decoding board 136, MPEG board 134, and JPEGboard 135. After the mutual authentication has been completed, the videostream information reproduced at the information recording andreproducing device 140 or information reproducing device 122 istransferred only to the MPEG board 134. Similarly, the audio streaminformation is transferred only to the audio coding/decoding board 136.The still picture stream is sent to the JPEG board 135 and the privatestream and text information are sent to the main CPU 111.

Table 4 shows the classification of embodiments of the presentinvention.

There are nine embodiments of the present invention which realize thefunctions (effects) needed in recording AV information shown in Table 1and Table 2.

Symbols used to distinguish between the embodiments include XX, XX-PS,LBN/ODD, LBN/ODD-PS, LBN/UDF, LBN/UDF-PS, LBN/UDF-CDAFi, LBN/XXX, andLBN/XXX-PS. In Table 4, the characteristic function of each embodimentis summarized.

The leftmost column lists a case where logical block numbers (LBN) arenot set for a defective location and a spare area and a case wherelogical block numbers are set for the latter. When logical block numbersare not set for a defective location and a spare area, the defectmanagement information is written in the defect management informationarea (DMA).

The top row lists a case where an extra spare area is not securedbeforehand in creating a contiguous data area (CDA) and a case where anextra spare area is secured. The rightmost column lists a managementlocation and management method of an unused area in an AV file.

Table 5 lists the effects produced when the individual embodiments areused.

Before explanation of concrete embodiments of the present invention, anembodiment where a DVD-RAM disk is used as an information storage mediumand a universal disk format (UDF) is used as a file system will beexplained.

First, a DVD-RAM disk will be explained before explanation of concreteembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram to help explain the layout of the schematic recordedcontents of a DVD-RAM disk. The lead-in area 607 on the disk inner edgeside is composed of an embossed data zone 611 where the opticalreflecting surface is uneven, a mirror zone 612 where the surface is aflat mirror, and a rewritable data zone 613 where information can berewritten. The embossed data zone 611 includes a reference signal zone653 representing a reference signal and a control data zone 655 as shownin FIG. 3. The mirror zone 612 includes a connection zone 657.

The rewritable data zone 613 includes a disk test zone 659, a drive testzone 660, a disk identification zone 662 with the disk ID (identifier),and a defect management area (DMA1 and DMA2) 663.

FIG. 4 shows a lead-out area 609 on the disk outer edge side. Thelead-out area 609 is composed of a rewritable data zone 645 including adefect management area (DMA3 and DMA4) 691, a disk identification zone692 with the disk ID (identifier), a drive test zone 694, and a disktest zone 695.

The data area 608 between the lead-in area 607 and lead-out area 609 isdivided into 24, tree-ring-like zone (00) 620 to zone (23) 643. When thedisk is rotated, each zone has a constant rotational speed. Therotational speed, however, differs from zone to zone. In addition, thenumber of sectors constituting each zone differs from one zone toanother. Specifically, zone (00) 620 and others on the disk inner edgeside are faster in the rotational speed and smaller in the number ofsectors. On the other hand, zone (23) 643 and others on the disk outeredge side are slower in the rotational speed and larger in the number ofsectors. Such a layout realizes high-speed access as seen in therotation with a constant angular velocity (CAV) in each zone. From theviewpoint of the zones as a whole, such high-density recording byrotation with a constant linear velocity (CLV) is realized.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams to help explain the details of the lead-inarea 607 and lead-out area 609 in the layout of FIG. 2.

In the control data zone 655 of the embossed data zone 611, thefollowing have been recorded: a book type and part version 671indicating the type of DVD standards applied (e.g., DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, orDVD-R) and a part version), a disk size and minimum read-out rate 672indicating the disk size and minimum read-out rate, a disk structure 673indicating a disk structure, such as a single-layer ROM disk, asingle-layer RAM disk, or a two-layer ROM disk, recording density 674indicating the recording density, a data area location 675 representingthe location where data has been recorded, a burst cutting area (BCA)descriptor 676 in which the serial number and others unique to eachinformation storage medium have been recorded in a non-rewritablemanner, velocity 677 indicating the linear velocity condition forspecifying the exposure in recording, read power 678 representing theexposure for the information storage medium in playback, peak power 679representing the maximum exposure to the information storage medium tocreate a recording mark in recording, base power 680 representing themaximum exposure to the information storage medium in deletion, andinformation about the manufacture of the medium.

In other words, information on the whole information storage medium,such as physical sector numbers representing the recording start andrecording end locations, information including recording power,recording pulse width, delete power, playback power, and linear velocityin recording and deleting, information about recording, reproducing, anddeleting characteristics, and information about the manufacture of theinformation storage medium, such as the serial number of each disk, havebeen recorded beforehand in the control data zone 655.

The rewritable data zones 613, 645 of the lead-in area 607 and lead-outarea 609 are provided with disk identification zones 662, 692 for eachdisk, trial recording zones (drive test zones 660, 694 and disk testzones 659, 695 for checking the conditions for recording and deleting),and management information recording areas (defect management areas DMA1& DMA2 663 and DMA3 & DMA4 691) pertaining to a defective area in thedata area, respectively. Use of these zones enables best recording to bedone on each disk.

FIG. 5 is a diagram to help explain the details of the data area 608 inthe layout of FIG. 2.

Twenty-four groups are allocated to every 24 zones. Each group includesa pair of a user area 723 used for data recording and a spare area 724used for a replacing process. The pair of a user area 723 and a sparearea 724 is separated by guard areas 771, 772 zone by zone. Moreover,the user area 723 and spare area 724 in each group fit in zones with thesame rotational speed. Smaller group numbers belong to the high-speedrotation zone and larger group numbers belong to the low-speed rotationzone.

Although the groups in the low-speed rotation zone have more sectorsthan those in the high-speed rotation zone, the low-speed rotation zonehas a larger radius of gyration and therefore the physical recordingdensity on the disk becomes almost uniform all over the zone (or thegroups).

In each group, the user area 723 is positioned at a smaller sectornumber (or on the inner edge side of the disk) and the spare area 724 ispositioned at a larger sector number (or on the outer edge side of thedisk).

Next, explanation will be given about the recording signal structure ofinformation recorded on a DVD-RAM disk serving as an information storagemedium and about a method of creating the recording signal structure.Here, the contents of information recorded on the medium themselves arecalled “information” and the structure or expression after informationwith the same contents has been scrambled or modulated, or theconnection between state “1” and state “0” after the signal mode hasbeen converted, is expressed as “signal.” In this way, “information” and“signal” are used to discriminate between them suitably.

FIG. 6 is a diagram to help explain the structure of a sector includedin the data area part of FIG. 5. One sector 501 a of FIG. 6 correspondsto one of the sector numbers of FIG. 5 and contains 2048 bytes as shownin FIG. 7. Each sector includes headers 573, 574 recorded beforehand inan uneven manner, such as an embossed manner, on the recording surfaceof the information storage medium (DVD-RAM disk) (not shown) at its headand further includes synchronous codes 575, 576 and modulated signals577, 578 alternately.

Next, a method of processing error correction code (ECC) blocks in aDVD-RAM disk will be explained.

FIG. 7 is a diagram to help explain the recording units of information(or the units of error correction code) included in the data area 608 ofFIG. 2.

In FAT (file allocation table) widely used in a file system forinformation storage mediums (hard disks HDD or magneto-optical disks MO)for personal computers, information is recorded onto an informationstorage medium in the smallest units of 256 bytes or 512 bytes.

In contrast, such an information storage medium as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, orDVD-RAM uses UDF (Universal Disk Format), explained in detail later, asa file system and records information on an information storage mediumin the smallest units of 2048 bytes. The smallest unit is called asector. Specifically, in an information storage medium using UDF,information is recorded in units of 2048 bytes in each sector 501 asshown in FIG. 7.

Since a CD-ROM and a DVD-ROM are handled in a bare manner without usinga cartridge, the surface of the information storage medium is liable tobe damaged or dust tends to adhere to the surface on the user side. Theeffect of dust stuck to or a flaw in the surface of the informationstorage medium might prevent a specific sector (for example, sector 501c in FIG. 7) from being reproduced from (or recorded onto).

DVD has employed an error correction method (ECC using product code)taking such a situation into account. Specifically, 16 sectors (in FIG.7, 16 sectors from sector 501 a to sector 501 p) constitute one ECCblock 502, which is provided with a powerful error correction function.As a result, for example, even if such an error has occurred in ECCblock 502 as prevents sector 501 c from being reproduced from, the erroris corrected and all the information in ECC block 502 can be reproducedcorrectly.

FIG. 8 shows the relationship between zones and groups (see FIG. 5) inthe data area 608 of FIG. 2.

The individual zones in FIG. 2, zone (00) 620 to zone (23) 643, arepositioned physically on the recording surface of a DVD-RAM disk. Aswritten in the column for physical sector number 604 of FIG. 2 and inFIG. 8, the physical sector number of the first physical sector (startphysical sector 701) in the user area (00) 705 in the data area 608 isset to 031000h (h: means hexadecimal representation). The physicalsector number increases as the location is closer to the outer edge 704.Consecutive physical sector numbers are allocated, regardless of userarea (00) 705, user area (01) 709, user area (23) 707, spare area (00)708, spare area (01) 709, spare area (23) 710, and guard areas 711, 712,713. Consequently, the continuity of physical sector numbers holds overzone 620 to zone 643.

In contrast, group 714 is composed of a pair of user area 705 and sparearea 708, group 715 is composed of a pair of user area 706 and sparearea 709, and group 716 is composed of a pair of user area 707 and sparearea 710. Guard area 711 is inserted between groups 714 and 715. Guardareas 712, 713 are inserted between groups 715 and 716. As a result, thephysical numbers extending over the groups 714, 715, 716 arediscontinuous. For example, because guard area 711 exists between groups714 and 715, the physical sector numbers between groups 714 and 715 arediscontinuous.

When a DVD-RAM disk with the configuration of FIG. 8 is used in aninformation recording and reproducing device with an informationrecording and reproducing section (physical system block) explainedlater, the rotational speed of the DVD-RAM disk can be switched, whilean optical head 202 is passing over guard areas 711, 712, 713. Forexample, while the optical head 202 is passing over guard area 711,seeking from group (00) 714 to group (01) 715, the rotational speed ofthe DVD-RAM disk is switched.

A defect management area (DMA1 to DMA4 663, 691) includes information onthe structure of a data are and defect management and contains 32sectors. Two defect management areas (DMA1, DMA2 663) are located in thelead-in area 607 on the DVD-RAM disk the other two defect managementareas (DMA3, DMA4 691) are positioned in the lead-out area 609 on theDVD-RAM disk. Spare sectors are added behind each of the defectmanagement areas (DMA1 to DMA4 663, 691), if necessary.

FIG. 9 is a diagram to help explain a method of setting logical sectornumbers in the data area 608 of FIG. 2. The smallest unit of logicalsector coincides with the smallest unit of physical unit and contains2048 bytes. Each logical sector is allocated to the correspondingphysical sector location according to the following rule.

As shown in FIG. 8, because the guard areas 711, 712, 713 are providedphysically on the recording surface of the DVD-RAM, the physical sectornumbers extending over the groups 714, 715, 716 are discontinuous. Thelogical sector numbers, however, are set in such a manner that theysucceed one another consecutively, extending over group (00) 714, group(01) 715, and group (23) 716. In the arrangement of group (01) 715 togroup (23) 716, smaller group numbers (smaller physical sector numbers)are positioned on the inner edge side of the DVD-RAM disk (on thelead-in area 607 side) and larger group numbers (larger physical sectornumbers) are located on the outer edge side of the DVD-RAM disk (on thelead-out area 609 side).

In the arrangement, when there is no defect in the recording surface ofthe DVD-RAM disk, the individual logical sectors are allocated to allthe physical sectors in user area (00) 705 to user area (23) 707 of FIG.8 with a one-to-one correspondence. The logical sector number of thesector at the location of the start physical sector number 701 whosephysical sector number is 031000h is set to 0h (refer to the column forthe logical sector number 774 of the first sector in each group of FIG.5).

As described above, where there is no defect in the recording surface,no logical sector number has been set for each sector in spare area (00)708 to spare area (23) 710 beforehand.

At the time of a certify process, the process of sensing the location ofa defect in the recording surface, carried out before recording on theDVD-RAM disk, or of playback, or when a defective sector has been foundin user area (00) 705 to user area (23) 707 in recording, as manylogical sector numbers as are equal to the number of sectors substitutedare set for the corresponding sectors in spare area (00) 708 to sparearea (23) 710 as a result of the switching process.

Next, several methods of processing a defect occurred in the user areawill be explained. Before that, the defect management area necessary toprocess a defect (the defect management area (DMA1 to DMA 4 663, 691) inFIG. 3 or 4) and its related matters will be explained.

(Defect Management Area)

A defect management area (DAM1 to DMA4 663, 691) includes information onthe structure of a data are and defect management and contains 32sectors. Two defect management areas (DMA1, DMA2 663) are located in thelead-in area 607 on the DVD-RAM disk the other two defect managementareas (DMA3, DMA4 691) are positioned in the lead-out area 609 on theDVD-RAM disk. Spare sectors are added behind each of the defectmanagement areas (DMA1 to DMA4 663, 691), if necessary.

Each of the defect management areas (DMA1 to DMA4 663, 691) is dividedinto two blocks. The first block of each of the defect management areas(DMA1 to DMA4 663, 691) includes a DVD-RAM disk definition structure(DDS) and a primary defect list (PDL). The second block of each of thedefect management areas (DMA1 to DMA4 663, 691) includes a secondarydefect list (SDL). The four primary defect lists (PDL) of the fourdefect management areas (DMA1 to DMA4 663, 691) have the same contentsand their four secondary defect lists (SDL) also have the same contents.

Although the four disk definition structures (DDS) of the four defectmanagement areas (DMA1 to DMA4 663, 691) have basically the samecontents, the four defect management areas differ in the pointers totheir PDL and SDL.

Here, a DDS/PDL block means the first block including DDS and PDL. AnSDL block means the second block including SDL.

The contents of each of the defect management areas (DMA1 to DMA4 663,691) after the DVD-RAM disk has been initialized are as follows:

(1) The first sector of each DDS/PDL block includes DDS.

(2) The second sector of each DDS/PDL block includes PDL.

(3) The first sector of each SDL block includes SDL.

The block length of a primary defect list PDL and that of the secondarydefect list are determined by the number of entries. The unused sectorsin each of the defect management areas (DMA1 to DMA4 663, 691) arewritten with the data 0FFh until they are filled with the data 0FFh.Moreover, all the spare sectors are written with 00h until they arefilled with 00h.

(Disk Definition Information)

The disk definition structure is composed of a table with a length ofone sector. The DDS includes a method of initializing a disk and thecontents that determine the start address of PDL and that of SDL. TheDDS is recorded in the first sector of each defect management area (DMA)at the end of initializing the disk.

(Spare Sector)

A defective sector in each data area 608 is replaced with (switched to)a good sector by a specific defect management method (verification,slipping replacement, skipping replacement, and linear replacementexplained layer). The locations of the spare sectors for replacement areincluded in spare area (00) 708 to spare area (23) 710 of each group.The physical sectors in each spare area are written in the column forthe spare area 724 of FIG. 5.

A defective sector is processed by a slipping replacement algorithm, askipping replacement algorithm, or a linear replacement algorithm. Thetotal of entries listed in the PDL and SDL by these algorithms is set ata specific number, for example, 4092 or less.

(Initialization and Certification)

Before the user information is recorded in the data area 608 on theDVD-RAM disk, the data area 608 is often initialized to certify thedefect state of all the sectors in the data area 608. According to thenumber of consecutive defective sectors, the slipping replacementalgorithm or linear replacement algorithm supplements the defectivesectors in the user area 723 with spare sectors in the spare area 724.When all the spare sectors in the zones on the DVD-RAM have been used upin the middle of certification, the DVD-RAM disk is judged to bedefective. Thereafter, the DVD-RAM disk is not supposed to be used.

The parameters in all the disk definition structures DDS are recorded inthe four DDS sectors. The primary defect list PDL and secondary defectlist SDL are recorded in the four defect management areas (DMA1 to DMA4663, 691). In the first initialization, the update counter in the SDL isset to 00h and all the reserved blocks are written with 00h until theyare filled with 00h.

When the disk 10 is used to store computer data, the initialization andcertification are performed. When it is used for video recording, videorecording might be done without performing initialization andcertification.

In FIG. 10, a and b indicate diagrams to help explain the slippingreplacement algorithm in the data area 608 of FIG. 2.

Immediately after the manufacture of DVD-RAM disks (when no userinformation has been recorded on disks), or when user information isrecorded for the first time (that is, when information is not recordedover an already recorded location, but is recorded in an unrecorded areafor the first time), the slipping replacement algorithm is applied as adefect processing method.

Specifically, the found defective data sectors (for example, m defectivesectors 731) are replaced with good sectors (user area 723 b) firstencountered after the defective sectors (replacement algorithm 734). Asa result, slipping is done by m sectors toward the end of the relevantgroup (backward shift in the logical sector numbers). Similarly,thereafter, when n defective sectors 732 are found, the defectivesectors are replaced with good sectors (user area 723 c) firstencountered after the defective sectors. The locations at which logicalsector numbers are set are shifted backward. As a result of thereplacement, logical sector numbers are allocated to m+n sectors 737,beginning at the start of the spare area 724, thereby forming a userinformation recordable area. Consequently, the unused area 726 in thespare area 724 is decreased by m+n sectors.

At this time, the addresses for the defective sectors are written in theprimary defect list (PDL) and the user information is prohibited frombeing recorded in the defective sectors. If no defective sector has beenfound during certification, nothing will be written in the PDL.Similarly, if a defective sector has been also found in the recordingarea 743 in the spare area 724, the address for the spare sector will bealso written in the PDL.

As a result of the slipping replacement algorithm, the user areas 723 ato 723 c without defective sectors and the recording area 743 in thespare area 724 become the information recording part (logical sectornumber setting area 735) of the group, to which consecutive logicalsector numbers are allocated.

In FIG. 10, c indicates a diagram to help explain the skippingreplacement algorithm, another replacement algorithm, in the data area608 of FIG. 2.

The skipping replacement algorithm is a processing method suitable fordefect processing in a case where user information, such as videoinformation or audio information, needs to be recorded seamlesslywithout a break. The skipping replacement algorithm is executed in unitsof 16 sectors, that is, in ECC blocks (that is, in units of 32 kilobytessince one sector contains 2 kilobytes).

For example, if one defective ECC block 741 has been found after theuser area 723 a composed of good ECC blocks, the data to be recorded inthe defective ECC block 741 will be recorded in an ECC block in a gooduser area 723 b just behind instead (replacement algorithm 744).Similarly, if k consecutive defective ECC blocks 742 have been found,the data to be recorded in these defective blocks 742 will be recordedin k consecutive ECC blocks in a good user area 723 c just behindinstead.

In this way, when an 1+k number of defective ECC blocks have been foundin the user area in the relevant group, (1+k) ECC blocks eat into thespare area 724 and the extended area 743 used to record information inthe spare area 724 becomes a user information recordable area, to whicha logical sector number is allocated. As a result, the unused area 746in the spare area 724 decreases by (1+k) ECC blocks, with the resultthat the remaining unused, area 746 become smaller.

As a result of the replacement, the user areas 723 a to 723 c are freefrom defective ECC blocks and the extended area used for informationrecording becomes the information recording part (logical sector numbersetting area) in the group. The logical sector number setting method ischaracterized in that the user areas 723 a to 723 c are free fromdefective ECC blocks are such that their logical sector numbersallocated beforehand in the initial setting (before the replacementprocess) remain unchanged.

As a result, a logical sector number allocated beforehand to eachphysical sector in the defective ECC block 741 in the initial setting ismoved as it is and set in the first physical sector in the extended area743 used for information recording. The logical sector numbers allocatedto the individual physical sectors in the k consecutive defective ECCblocks 742 in the initial setting are moved in parallel as they are andset in the relevant physical sectors in the extended area 743 used forinformation recording.

In the skipping replacement algorithm, even if the DVD-RAM disk has notbeen certified beforehand, the replacement process can be performed onthe defective sectors found in the course of recording the userinformation.

In FIG. 10, d indicates a diagram to help explain the linear replacementalgorithm, still another replacement algorithm, in the data area 608 ofFIG. 2.

The linear replacement algorithm is executed in units of 16 sectors,that is, in ECC blocks (or in units of 32 kilobytes). In the linearreplacement algorithm, the defective ECC block 751 is replaced with ausable good spare block (the first alternative recording part 753 in thespare area 724) first encountered in the relevant group (replacementprocess 758). In the replacement process, not only the user informationto be recorded in the defective ECC block 751 is recorded in thealternative recording part 753 in the spare area 724, but also thelogical sector number setting location is also recorded as it is in thealternative recording part 753. Similarly, the user information andlogical sector number setting location to be recorded in k consecutivedefective ECC blocks 752 are moved to an alternative recording part 754in the spare area 724.

In the linear replacement algorithm and skipping replacement algorithm,the address for the defective block and the address for the lastreplacement block are written into the SDL. When the replacement blockslisted in the SDL (secondary defect list) have turned out to bedefective blocks, entries are made in the SDL using a direct pointermethod. In the direct pointer method, the address for the replacementblock is changed from the address for the defective block to a new one,thereby amending the entries in the SDL. To update the secondary defectlist SDL, the update counter in the SDL is incremented by one.

(Writing)

When data is written in a sector in a group, the defective sectorslisted in the primary defect list (PDL) are skipped. Then, by theaforementioned slipping replacement algorithm, the data to be written inthe defective sector is written into a data sector encountered next. Ifthe block to be written into has been listed in the secondary defectlist (SDL), the data to be written into the block will be written intothe spare block specified by the SDL according to the aforementionedlinear replacement algorithm or skipping replacement algorithm.

In the environment of a personal computer, the linear replacementalgorithm is used to record personal computer files and the skippingreplacement algorithm is used to record AV files.

(Primary Defect List PDL)

Although the primary defect list (PDL) is always recorded in a DVD-RAMdisk, the contents of the list may be empty.

The PDL includes the addresses for all the defective sectors determinedin the initialization. These addresses are listed in ascending order.The PDL is recorded in the necessary minimum number of sectors. The PDLstarts at the first user byte in the first sector. All the unused bytesin the last sector in the PDL are set to 0FFh. In the PDL, the followinginformation is written:

Byte Location:Contents of PDL

0 00h: PDL identifier

1 01h: PDL identifier

2 The number of addresses in PDL: MSB

3 The number of addresses in PDL: LSB

4 Address for the first defective sector (sector number: MSB)

5 Address for the first defective sector (sector number)

6 Address for the first defective sector (sector number)

7 Address for the first defective sector (sector number: LSB)

···

x-3 Address for the last defective sector (sector number: MSB)

x-2 Address for the last defective sector (sector number)

x-1 Address for the last defective sector (sector number)

x Address for the last defective sector (sector number)

* NOTE: When the second byte and third bytes are set to 00h, the thirdbyte is at the end of the PDL.

In the case of a primary defect list (PDL) for multi-sectors, an addresslist of defective sectors follows the first byte in the second or latersectors. Namely, the PDL identifier and the number of PDL addressesexist only in the first sector. When the PDL is empty, the second byteand third byte are set to 00h and the fourth byte to the 2047^(th) byteare set to FFh.

The unused sectors in the DDS/PDL block are written with FFh.

(Secondary Defect List SDL)

The secondary defect list (SDL) is created at the initializing stage andused after a Certify operation. In initialization, the SDL is recordedonto all the disks.

The SDL includes entries in the form of the addresses for defective datablocks and the addresses for spare blocks to be replaced with thedefective blocks. Eight bytes are allocated to each entry in the SDL.Specifically, of the eight bytes, four bytes are allocated to theaddresses for defective blocks and the remaining four bytes areallocated to the addresses for replacement blocks.

The address list includes the first address for the defective blocks andthat for their replacement blocks. The addresses for the defectiveblocks are assigned in ascending order.

The SDL is recorded in the necessary minimum number of sectors. The SDLstarts at the first user data byte in the first sector. All the unusedbytes in the last sector in the SDL are set to 0FFh. The pieces ofinformation after that are recorded in each of the four SDLs.

When the replacement blocks listed in the SDL have turned out to bedefective blocks, entries are made in the SDL using a direct pointermethod. In the direct pointer method, the address for the replacementblock is changed from the address for the defective block to a new one,thereby amending the entries in the SDL in which the replaced defectiveblock has been registered. At that time, the number of entries in theSDL is not be changed by the degraded sectors.

In the SDL, the following information is written:

Byte Location:Contents of SDL

0 (00): SDL identifier

1 (01): SDL identifier

2

(00)

3 (01)

4 Update counter: MSB

5 Update counter

6 Update counter

7 Update counter: LSB

8-26 Spares (00h)

27-29 Flags indicating that all the spare sectors in the zone have beenused up

30 The number of entries in the SDL: MSB

31 The number of entries in the SDL: LSB

32 The address for the first defective block (sector number: MSB)

33 The address for the first defective block (sector number)

34 The address for the first defective block (sector number)

35 The address for the first defective block (sector number: LSB)

36 The address for the first replacement block (sector number: MSB)

37 The address for the first replacement block (sector number)

38 The address for the first replacement block (sector number)

39 The address for the first replacement block (sector number: LSB)

···

y-7 The address for the last defective block (sector number: MSB)

y-6 The address for the last defective block (sector number)

y-5 The address for the last defective block (sector number)

y-4 The address for the last defective block (sector number: LSB)

y-3 The address for the last replacement block (sector number: MSB)

y-2 The address for the last replacement block (sector number)

y-1 The address for the last replacement block (sector number)

y The address for the last replacement block (sector number: LSB)

* NOTE: Each entry at the 30^(th) and 31^(st) byte has an eight-bytelength. In the case of a secondary defect list (SDL) for multi-sectors,an address list of defective sectors and replacement blocks follows thefirst byte in the second or later sectors. Namely, the 0^(th) byte to31^(st) byte in the SDL exist only in the first sector. The unusedsectors in the SDL block are written with FFh.

Here, a device for recording or reproducing information onto or from theinformation storage medium (disk) will be explained.

FIG. 11 is a black diagram showing an example of the configuration ofthe information recording and reproducing section (physical systemblock) of an information recording and reproducing device.

Explanation of the basic functions of the information recording andreproducing section

The information recording and reproducing section records newinformation or rewrites the information (or deletes the information) ata specific position on an information storage medium (optical disk) 201,using a condensed spot of a laser beam. The section further reproducesthe already recorded information at a specific position on theinformation storage medium 201, using the condensed spot of the laserbeam.

Explanation of means for achieving the basic functions of theinformation storage section

To achieve the basic functions, the recording and reproducing sectioncauses the condensed spot to trace (or follow) the track on theinformation storage medium 201. The section changes the amount (orintensity) of light of the condensed spot projected on the informationstorage medium 201, thereby switching between the recording,reproducing, and deleting of information. In addition, the sectionconverts an externally supplied recording signal d into a signal mostsuitable for recording in a high density at a low error rate.

Explanation of the Structure of the Mechanical Part and the Operation ofthe Sensing Part

<Basic structure of optical head 202 and signal sensing circuit>

<Sensing a signal by optical head 202>

The optical head 202 is basically composed of a semiconductor laserelement serving as a light source, a photodetector, and an objective.The laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser element is gatheredby the objective onto the information storage medium (optical disk) 201.The laser light reflected from the reflecting film or reflectiverecording film of the information storage medium 201 isphotoelectrically converted by the photodetector.

The sense current obtained by the photodetector is converted by anamplifier 213 into a voltage, which is a sense signal. The sense signalis processed at a focus/track error sensing circuit 217 or abinarization circuit 212.

In general, the photodetector is divided into light sensing areas andsenses a change in the amount of light projected onto each light sensingarea. The focus/track error sensing circuit 217 performs addition orsubtraction on each sense signal, thereby sensing a shift in focus and ashift in track. After a shift in focus and a shift in track have beenvirtually eliminated, the photodetector senses a change in the amount ofreflected light from the reflecting film or reflective recording film ofthe information storage medium, thereby reproducing the signal on theinformation storage medium 201.

<Method of sensing a shift in focus>

Methods of sensing the amount of a shift in focus include the following:

(Astigmatism method) ··· A method of placing an optical element (notshown) for causing astigmatism in an optical path where the laser lightreflected by the reflecting film or reflective recording film of theinformation storage medium 201 is sensed and of sensing a change in theshape of the laser light projected on the photodetector. The lightsensing area is quadrisected diagonally. The focus/track error sensingcircuit 217 finds out the sum of the sense signals from the sensingareas on each diagonal and calculates the difference between the sums,thereby obtaining a focus error sense signal.

(Knife edge method) ··· A method of placing a knife edge forasymmetrically shutting off part of the laser light reflected by theinformation storage medium 201. The light sensing area is bisected. Thedifference between the sense signals obtained from the respectivesensing areas is calculated, thereby obtaining a focus error sensesignal.

Generally, either the astigmatism method or knife edge method is used.

<Method of sensing a shift in track>

The information storage medium 201 has a spiral or concentric track, onwhich information is recorded. A condensed spot is caused to trace thetrack, thereby reproducing, recording, or deleting the information. Tocause the condensed spot to trace the track stably, it is necessary tooptically sense a relative positional gap between the track andcondensed spot.

Methods of sensing a shift in track include the following:

(Phase difference sensing method) ··· A method of sensing a change inthe intensity distribution on the photodetector of the laser lightreflected by the reflecting film or reflective recording film of theinformation storage medium (optical disk) 201. The light sensing area isquadrisected diagonally. The focus/track error sensing circuit 217 findsout the sum of the sense signals from the sensing areas on each diagonaland calculates the difference between the sums, thereby obtaining atrack error sense signal.

(Push-pull method) ··· A method of sensing a change in the intensitydistribution on the photodetector of the laser light reflected by theinformation storage medium 201. The light sensing area is bisected. Thedifference between the sense signals obtained from the respectivesensing areas is calculated, thereby obtaining a track error sensesignal.

(Twin-spot method) ··· A method of placing a diffraction grating and thelike in a light guiding system between the semiconductor laser elementand the information storage medium 201, dividing the light into wavesurfaces, and sensing changes in the amount of reflected light of the ±first-order diffraction light projected on the information storagemedium 201. In addition to the light sensing area for sensing playbacksignals, there are provided light sensing areas that sense the amount ofreflected light of the + first-order diffraction light and the amount ofreflected light of the − first-order diffraction light separately. Thedifference between the respective sense signals is calculated, therebyobtaining a track error signal.

<Objective actuator structure>

The objective (not shown) that condenses the laser light emitted fromthe semiconductor laser element on the information storage medium 201 isdesigned to be movable in the directions of two axes according to theoutput current of an objective actuator driving circuit 218. Theobjective moves in the following two directions: it moves in thedirection perpendicular to the information storage medium 201 to correcta shift in focus; and it moves across the radius of the informationstorage medium 201 to correct a shift in track.

The moving mechanism (not shown) of the objective is called an objectiveactuator. The following are often used for the objective actuatorstructure:

(Shaft sliding method) ··· A method of allowing a blade integral withthe objective to-move along the center shaft. In this method, the blademoves along the center shaft, thereby correcting a shift in focus. Theblade rotates on the center shaft, thereby correcting a shift in track.

(Four-wire method) ··· A method of moving a blade integral with theobjective in the directions of two axes making use of elasticdeformation of the wires, the blade being connected to a fixed systemwith four wires.

Both of the above methods have a structure that has a permanent magnetand a coil and moves the blade by causing current to flow through thecoil connected to the blade.

<Rotational control system of information storage medium 201>

The information storage medium (optical disk) 201 is mounted on aturntable 221, which is rotated by the driving force of a spindle motor204.

The number of revolutions of the information storage medium 201 issensed from the playback signal obtained from the information storagemedium 201. Specifically, the sense signal (analog signal) of the outputof the amplifier 213 is converted by the binarization circuit 212 into adigital signal. From the digital signal, a PLL circuit 211 generates aconstant period signal (reference clock signal). Using the signal, aninformation storage medium rotational speed sensing circuit 214 sensesthe number of revolutions of the information-storage medium 201 andoutputs the value.

A correspondence table of the number of revolutions of the informationstorage medium corresponding to the positions on the radius on theinformation storage medium 201 to be reproduced from or recordedonto/deleted from has been recorded beforehand in a semiconductor memory219. Once the reproduce position or record/delete position has beendetermined, a control section 220 refers to the semiconductor memory219, sets the target number of revolutions of the information storagemedium 201, and informs an spindle motor driving circuit 215 of thevalue.

The spindle motor driving circuit 215 calculates the difference betweenthe target number of revolutions and the output signal (the presentnumber of revolutions) of the information storage medium rotationalspeed sensing circuit 214, supplies a driving current to the spindlemotor 204 according to the result, and performs control so that thenumber of revolutions of the spindle motor 204 becomes constant. Theoutput signal of the information storage medium rotational speed sensingcircuit 214 is a pulse signal having a frequency corresponding to thenumber of revolutions of the information storage medium 201. The spindlemotor driving circuit 215 performs control (frequency control and phasecontrol) of both the frequency of the pulse signal and the pulse phase.

<Optical head moving mechanism>

The mechanism has an optical head moving mechanism (feed motor) 203 formoving the optical head 202 across the radius of the information storagemedium 201.

A rod-like guide shaft is often used as a guide mechanism for moving theoptical head 202. The guide mechanism moves the optical head 202 makinguse of friction between the guide shaft and the bush provided on part ofthe optical head 202 . Instead, bearings may be used which decreasefriction force using a rotary motion.

Although a method of transmitting the driving force to move the opticalhead 202 is not shown, it is such that a rotary motor with a pinion(rotating gear) is provided on the fixed system, a rack, a linear gearthat engages with the pinion, is provided on one side of the opticalhead 202, and the rotary motion of the rotary motor is converted into alinear motion of the optical head 202. Another driving forcetransmitting method is such that a permanent magnet is provided on thefixed system, current is caused to flow to the coil mounted on theoptical head 202, and the optical head is moved linearly.

Both of the rotary motor and linear motor methods basically causecurrent to flow through the feed motor, thereby producing driving forcefor driving the optical head 202. The driving current is supplied from amotor driving circuit 216.

<Function of each circuit>

<Condensed spot trace control>

To correct a shift in focus or a shift in track, there is provided anobjective actuator driving circuit 218 that supplies a driving currentto the objective actuator (not shown) in the optical head 202 accordingto the output signal (sense signal) of the focus/track error sensingcircuit 217. To make the movement of the objective respond at high speedas far as a high-frequency region, the driving circuit 218 includes aphase compensating circuit for improving characteristics according tothe frequency characteristic of the objective actuator.

Under the control of the control section 220, the objective actuatordriving circuit 218 carries out the following:

(a) The process of turning on and off the operation of correcting ashift in focus and track (focus/track loop).

(b) The process of moving the objective in the vertical direction (focusdirection) of the information storage medium 201 (executed when thefocus/track loop is off).

(c) The process of slightly moving the objective across the radius ofthe information storage medium 201 (in the direction in which the spottraverses the track), thereby moving the condensed spot to an adjacenttrack. Kick pulses are used.

<Laser light amount control>

<Switching between reproduce and record/delete>

Switching between reproduce and record/delete is done by changing theamount of light of the condensed spot projected on the informationstorage medium 201.

In the case of an information storage medium using a phase changemethod, the following relations generally holds:

(the amount of light in recording)>(the amount of light indeleting)>(the amount of light in reproducing)  (1)

In the case of an information storage medium using a magneto-opticalmethod, the following relationship generally holds:

(the amount of light in recording)≈(the amount of light indeleting)>(the amount of light in reproducing)  (2)

In the magneto-optical method, the polarity of an external magneticfield (not shown) applied to the information storage medium 201 ischanged in recording/deleting, thereby controlling the processes ofrecording and deleting.

In reproducing information, a constant amount of light is projectedcontinuously on the information storage medium 201.

To record new information, a pulse-like intermittent amount of light isadded to the amount of light in reproducing. When the semiconductorlaser element emits pulses with a large amount of light, the reflectiverecording film of the information storage medium is changed optically orin shape, thereby forming a recording mark. To write information over analready recorded area, the semiconductor laser element is caused to emitpulses in a similar manner.

To delete the already recorded information, light with a constant amountof light greater than in reproducing is projected continuously. When theinformation is deleted continuously, the amount of light projected isreturned to that in reproducing at specific intervals of time, such asat intervals of each sector and the information is reproducedintermittently in parallel with the deleting process. By reproducing thetrack numbers and addresses of the tracks deleted intermittently, thedeleting process is executed, while a check is being made to see ifthere is no error in the deleted tracks.

<Laser light-emitting Control>

Although not shown, the optical head 202 includes a photodetector forsensing the amount of light emitted by the semiconductor laser element.A laser driving circuit 205 calculates the difference between the outputof the photodetector (the sense signal of the amount of light emitted bythe semiconductor laser element) and the light-emission reference signalsupplied from a record/reproduce/delete control waveform generatorcircuit 206 and, on the basis of the result, performs feedback controlof the driving current to the semiconductor laser.

<Various Operations Related to the Control System of the MechanicalPart>

<Start-up Control>

After the information storage medium (optical disk) 201 has been put onthe turntable 221 and start- up control has been started, processes arecarried out through the following procedure:

(1) The control section 220 informs the spindle motor driving circuit215 of the target number of revolutions. Then, the spindle motor drivingcircuit 215 supplies a driving current to the spindle motor 204. Thespindle motor 204 then starts to rotate.

(2) At the same time, the control circuit 220 sends a command (executeinstruction) to the feed motor driving circuit 216. The feed motordriving circuit 216 then supplies a driving current to the optical headdriving mechanism (feed motor) 203, which moves the optical head 202 tothe innermost edge position of the information storage medium 201. As aresult, a check is made to see if the optical head 202 has exceeded thearea in which the information has been recorded on the informationstorage medium 201 and reached a further inner edge portion.

(3) When the spindle motor 204 has reached the target number ofrevolutions, its status (situation report) is sent to the controlsection 220.

(4) The semiconductor laser driving circuit 205 supplies current to thesemiconductor laser element in the optical head 202 according to thereproduce light-amount signal sent from the control section 220 to therecord/reproduce/delete control waveform generator circuit 206, whichstarts laser light emission.

The optimum amount of light projected in reproducing differs, dependingon the type of the information storage medium (optical disk) 201. Atstart-up, the value of current supplied to the semiconductor laserelement is set to the value corresponding to the smallest one of theamounts of light projected.

(5) The objective actuator driving circuit 218 controls the objectiveaccording to the command from the control section 220 in such a mannerthat it moves the objective (not shown) in the optical head 202 farthestfrom the information storage medium 201 and then brings the objectivecloser to the information storage medium 201 gradually.

(6) At the same time, the focus/track error sensing circuit 217 monitorsthe amount of shift in focus and, when the objective comes closer to theposition at which the objective is in focus, sends the status to tellthe control section 220 that the objective has come closer to the focalpoint.

(7) Receiving the notice, the control section 220 sends a command to theobjective actuator driving circuit 218 to turn on the focus loop.

(8) With the locus loop on, the control section 220 sends a command thefeed motor driving circuit 216, which then moves the optical head 202toward the outer edge of the information storage medium 201 gradually.

(9) At the same time, the control section monitors the playback signalfrom the optical head 202 and, when the optical head 202 has reached therecording area on the information storage medium 201, stops the movementof the optical head 202, and sends a command to the object lens actuatordriving circuit 218 to turn on the track loop.

(10) Then, “the optimum amount of light in reproducing” and “the optimumamount of light in recording/deleting recorded” recorded on the inneredge part of the information storage medium 201 are reproduced and theresulting information is recorded in the semiconductor memory 219 viathe control section 220.

(11) The control section further sends a signal corresponding to “theoptimum amount of light in reproducing” to the record/reproduce/deletecontrol waveform generator circuit 206 and sets again the amount oflight emitted by the semiconductor laser element in reproducing.

(12) Then, according to “the optimum amount of light inrecording/deleting” recorded on the information storage medium 201, theamount of light emitted by the semiconductor laser element inrecording/deleting is set.

<Access control>

Information as to at what location the information recorded on theinformation storage medium to be accessed has been recorded on theinformation storage medium and as to what contents the information hasdiffers, depending on the type of the information storage medium 201.For example, on a DVD disk, such information is recorded in thedirectory management area or in a navigation pack on the informationstorage medium 201.

The directory management area is generally recorded in a lump in theinner edge area or outer edge area of the information storage medium201. A navigation pack is included in a data unit called VOBU (videoobject unit) in VOBS (video object set) complying with the datastructure of PS (program stream) in MPEG 2. In the navigation pack,information as to where the next picture is recorded is recorded.

To reproduce or record/delete a specific piece of information, theinformation in the above area is reproduced and the access destinationis determined from the obtained information.

<Rough Access Control>

The control section calculates the position of the radium at the accessdestination and determines the distance between the present position ofthe optical head 202 and the calculated position.

Information about the speed curve by which the optical head 202 canarrive at the destination in the shortest time has been recorded in thesemiconductor memory 219 beforehand. The control section 220 reads theinformation and controls the movement of the optical head 202 asfollows.

After the control section 220 has sent a command to the objectiveactuator driving circuit 218 to turn off the track loop, it controls thefeed motor driving circuit 216 to cause the optical head 202 to startmoving.

When the condensed spot traverses the track on the information storagemedium 201, the focus/track error sensing circuit 217 generates a trackerror sense signal. Using the track error sense signal, the relativespeed of the condensed spot to the information storage medium 201 can besensed.

The feed motor driving circuit 216 calculates the relative speed of thecondensed spot from the focus/track error sensing circuit 217 and thetarget speed information constantly sent from the control section 220and, on the basis of the result, moves the optical head 202, whileapplying feedback control to the driving current to the optical headdriving mechanism (feed motor) 203.

As described in item <Optical head moving mechanism>, friction force isalways acting between the guide shaft and bush or bearings. Althoughkinetic friction acts when the optical head 202 is moving at high speed,statical friction acts at the beginning of movement and just before itcomes to a stop because the optical head 202 moves at low speed. Whenthe static friction acts (especially, just before the head stops), thefriction force increases relatively. To cope with an increase in thefriction force, the amplification factor (gain) of the control system isincreased by a command from the control section 220 to increase thecurrent supplied to the optical head driving mechanism (feed motor) 203.

<Fine Access Control>

After the optical head 202 has reached the target position, the controlsection 220 sends a command to the objective actuator driving circuit218, thereby turning on the track loop.

While tracing the track on the information storage medium 201, thecondensed spot reproduces the addresses or track numbers at that part.

From the addresses or track numbers, the position of the presentcondensed spot is determined. The number of erroneous tracks from thetarget position to be reached is calculated at the control section 220,which informs the objective actuator driving circuit 218 of the numberof tracks across which the condensed spot has to move.

When the objective actuator driving circuit 218 generates a set of kickpulses, the objective moves slightly along the radius of the informationstorage medium 201 and the condensed spot moves to the adjacent track.

The objective actuator driving circuit 218 turns off the track looptemporarily and generates as many kick pulses as meet the informationfrom the control circuit 220 and thereafter turns on the track loopagain.

After the fine access has been completed, the control section 220reproduces the information (address or track number) at the positionwhere the condensed spot is tracing and makes sure that the target trackis being accessed.

<Continuous Recording/reproducing/deleting Control>

The track error sense signal outputted from the focus/track errorsensing circuit 217 is inputted to the feed motor driving circuit 216.At the time of “start-up control” or “access control,” the controlsection 220 prevents the feed driving circuit 216 from using the trackerror sense signal.

After having confirmed that the condensed spot has reached the targettrack as a result of the access, the control section 220 sends a commandto supply part of the track error sense signal as a driving current viathe motor driving circuit 216 to the optical head driving mechanism(feed motor) 203. This control is continued during the time whenreproducing or recording/deleting is being done continuously.

The information storage medium 201 is put in such a manner that itscenter position is off-centered slightly from the center position of theturntable 221. When part of the track error sense signal is supplied asa driving current, the whole optical head 202 moves slightly accordingto the eccentricity.

When reproducing or recording/deleting is done continuously for a longtime, the position of the condensed spot moves gradually toward theouter edge or inner edge. When part of the track error sense signal issupplied as a driving current to the optical head moving mechanism (feedmotor) 203, the optical head 202 moves gradually toward the outer edgeor inner edge accordingly.

By easing the objective actuator of the burden of correcting a shift inthe track, the track loop can be stabilized.

<End Control>

To end the operation after a series of processes has been completed,processing is done through the following procedure:

(1) The control section 220 sends a command to turn off the track loopto the objective actuator driving circuit 218.

(2) The control section 220 sends a command to turn off the focus loopto the objective actuator driving circuit 218.

(3) The control section 220 sends a command to stop the semiconductorlaser element from emitting light to the record/reproduce/delete controlwaveform generator circuit 206.

(4) The spindle motor driving circuit 215 is informed that the referencenumber of revolutions is 0.

<Flow of Recording signal/playback Signal to the Information StorageMedium>

<Flow of Signal in Reproducing>

<Binarization/PLL Circuit>

As described in item <Signal sensing by optical head 202>, a change inthe amount of reflected light from the reflecting film or reflectiverecording film of the information storage medium (optical disk) 201 issensed, thereby reproducing the signal on the information storage medium201. The signal obtained by the amplifier 213 has an analog waveform.The binarization circuit 212 uses a comparator to convert the analogsignal into a binary digital signal composed of “1” and “0.”

From the playback signal obtained at the binarization circuit 212, thePLL 211 extract a reference signal for playback of information.

Specifically, the PLL circuit 211 includes an oscillator capable ofvarying frequency and compares the frequency and phase of the pulsesignal (reference clock) outputted from the oscillator with those of theoutput signal of the binarization circuit 212.

The result of the comparison is fed back to the output of theoscillator, thereby producing the reference signal for reproducinginformation.

<Demodulation of Signal>

A demodulation circuit 210 includes a conversion table showing therelationship between the modulated signals and the demodulated signals.Referring to the conversion table in synchronization with the referenceclock obtained at the PLL circuit 211, the demodulation circuit 210returns the input signal (modulated signal) to the original signal(demodulated signal). The- demodulated signal is stored in thesemiconductor memory 219.

<Error Correcting Process>

An error correction circuit 209 senses errors in the signal stored inthe semiconductor memory 219 using internal code PI and external code POand sets the pointer flags for the error positions. Thereafter, whilereading out the signals from the semiconductor memory 219, the errorcorrection circuit corrects the signals at the error positions one afteranother according to the error pointer flags, and then recordspost-error-correction information in the semiconductor memory 219 again.

When the information reproduced from the information storage medium 201is outputted as playback signal c to the outside world, the internalcode PI and external code PO are removed from the post-error- correctioninformation recorded in the semiconductor memory. The resultinginformation is transferred via a bus line 224 to a data I/O interface222. The data I/O interface 222 outputs the signal sent from the errorcorrection circuit 209 as playback signal c.

<Signal Form Recorded on the Information Storage Medium 201>

The signals recorded on the information storage medium are required tofulfill the following:

(a) They must be capable of correcting errors in the recordedinformation due to defects in the information storage medium.

(b) The direct-current components of their playback signals must be made“0” to simplify the reproducing circuit.

(c) They must be recorded in such a manner that the information isrecorded as densely on the information storage medium 201 as possible.

To meet the requirements, the information recording and reproducingsection (physical system block) achieves “addition of an errorcorrection function” and “signal conversion of recorded information(modulation/demodulation of signal).”

<Flow of Signal in Recording>

<Error Correction Code ECC Adding Process>

An error correction code ECC adding process will be explained.Information d-to be recorded on the information storage medium 201 isinputted in the form of a row signal to the data I/O interface 222. Therecording signal d is recorded as it is in the semiconductor memory 219.Thereafter, an ECC encoder 208 executes the following ECC additionalprocess.

Hereinafter, a concrete example of an ECC adding method using a productcode will be explained.

In the semiconductor memory 219, recording signal d is arranged row byrow at intervals of 172 bytes and 192 rows forms one ECC block (172-byterow×192-byte column gives 32 kilobytes of information). For the rawsignal (recording signal d) in one ECC block composed of “172-byterow×192-byte column,” 10-byte internal code PI is calculated atintervals of a 172-byte row and the result is recorded in thesemiconductor memory 219 additionally. In addition, 16-byte externalcode PO is calculated at intervals of one column in bytes and the resultis recorded in the semiconductor memory 219 additionally.

Then, using a total of 23366 bytes (=(12+1)×(172+10)) consisting of 12rows including a 10-byte internal code PI (12×(172+10) bytes) and onerow of external code PO (1×(172+10) bytes) as a unit, the informationsubjected to the error correction code ECC adding process is recorded ina sector on the information storage medium 201.

After internal code PI and external code PO have been added, the ECCencoder 208 transfers the information to the semiconductor memorytemporarily. When information is recorded on the information storagemedium 201, the signal is transferred in units of a sector of 2336 bytesto the semiconductor memory 219.

<Signal Modulation>

Signal conversion, or conversion of signal form, is caused in amodulation circuit 207 to bring the direct-current component (SDV:Digital Sum Value or Digital Sum Variation) of the playback signalcloser to “0” and record information on the information storage medium211 at high density. Each of the modulation circuit 207 and demodulationcircuit 210 includes a conversion table showing the relationship betweenthe original signal and the modulated signal.

The modulation circuit 207 segments the signal transferred from the ECCencoder 208 in units of bits according to a specific modulation methodand converts them into another signal (code) referring to the conversiontable. For example, when 8/16 modulation (RLL (2, 10) code) is used as amodulation method, two types of conversion table exist. Reference ismade switching between the two conversion tables in such a manner thatthe direct-current component (DSV) after the modulation gets closer to“0.”

<Recording Waveform Generation>

When a recording mark is recorded on the information storage medium(optical disk) 201, the following are generally used as a recordingmethod:

(Mark length recording method) “1” is placed at the beginning and end ofthe recording mark.

(Mark-to-mark recording method) The center position of the recordingmark coincides with the position of “1.”

To use mark length recording, it is necessary to form a relative longrecording mark. In this case, when a large amount of light for recordingcontinues to be projected on the information storage medium 201 forlonger than a specific period of time, the heat-accumulating effect ofthe reflective recording film of the information storage medium 201causes only the rear of the mark to get wider, forming a raindrop-likerecording mark. To avoid this drawback, when a long recording mark isformed, the recording laser driving signal is divided into recordingpulses or the recording waveform of the recording laser is changed to astep-like waveform.

According to the recording signal sent from the modulation circuit 207,the record/reproduce/delete control waveform generator circuit 206creates the aforementioned waveform and sends a driving signal with therecording waveform to the semiconductor laser driving circuit 205.

Here, the flow of signals between blocks in the recording andreproducing device will be summarized as follows:

(1) Input of a raw signal to be recorded to the information recordingand reproducing device

The configuration of the information recording and reproducing section(physical system block) is exemplified. In the information recording andreproducing section, the sections related to the processes of recordingand reproducing information onto and from the information storage medium(optical disk) 201 in the information recording and reproducing deviceare put together. The recording signal d sent from a host computer, suchas PC (personal computer) or EWS (engineering workstation) is inputtedto an information recording and reproducing section (physical systemblock) 101 by way of the data I/O interface 222.

(2) Process of Dividing Recording Signal d at Intervals of 2048 Bytes

The data I/O interface 222 divides the recording signal dtime-sequentially at intervals of 2048 bytes and adds a data ID andthereafter carries out a scrambling process. The resulting signal issent to the ECC encoder 208.

(3) Creating an ECC Block

The ECC encoder 208 forms a block of “172 bytes×192 columns” by puttingtogether 16 groups of the signals obtained by scrambling the recordingsignals and then adds internal code PI (internal parity code) andexternal code PO (external parity code).

(4) Interleaving Process

Thereafter, the ECC encoder 208 carries out the interleaving process ofexternal code PO.

(5) Signal Modulation Process

The modulation circuit 207 modulates the signal obtained by interleavingexternal code PO and then adds a synchronizing code.

(6) Recording Waveform Creating Process

According to the resulting signal, the record/reproduce/delete controlwaveform generator circuit 206 creates a recording waveform and sendsthe waveform to the laser driving circuit 205.

Because the information storage medium (DVD-RAM disk) 201 has employedthe “mark length recording” method, the rising timing and falling timingof the recording pulse coincide with the timing of “1” of the modulatedsignal.

(7) The Process of Recording Information on the Information StorageMedium (Optical Disk) 10

The amount of light of the laser light projected from the optical head202 and condensed on the recording film of the information storagemedium (optical disk) 201 is varied intermittently, thereby forming arecording mark at the recording film of the information storage medium(optical disk) 201.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart to help explain an example of the operation ofsetting logical block numbers for a DVD-RAM disk or the like.Explanation will be given by reference to FIG. 11, too.

When the information storage medium (optical disk) 201 is put on theturntable 221 (step ST131), the control section starts to rotate thespindle motor 204 (step ST132).

After the information storage medium (optical disk) 201 has startedrotating, the optical head 202 starts to emit laser light (step ST133)and the objective focus servo loop in the optical head 202 is turned on(step ST134).

After laser light has been emitted, the control section 220 causes thefeed motor 203 to operate, thereby moving the optical head 202 to thelead-in area 607 of the information storage medium (optical disk) 201now rotating (step ST135). Then, the objective track servo loop in theoptical head 202 is turned on (step ST136).

After the track servo has become active, the optical head 202 reproducesthe information in the control data zone 655 (see FIG. 3) in the lead-inarea 607 on the information storage medium (optical disk) 201 (stepST137). Reproducing the book type and part version 671 in the controlzone 655, the optical head has confirmed that the information storagemedium (optical disk) 201 now being rotated is a recordable medium(DVD-RAM disk or DVD-R disk) (step ST138). Here, the medium 201 isassumed to be a DVD-RAM disk.

After it is confirmed that the information storage medium (optical disk)201 is a DVD-RAM disk, information about the optimum amount of light forreproducing, recording, or deleting (such as the light-emitting powerand light-emitting period or duty ratio or the like of the semiconductorlaser) is reproduced from the control zone 655 to be reproduced (stepST139).

Thereafter, the control section 220 creates a conversion table (see FIG.5) for physical sector numbers and logical sector numbers, provided thatthere is no defect in the DVD-RAM now being rotated (step ST140).

After the conversion table has been created, the control section 220reproduces the defect management area DMA1/DMA2 663 in the lead-in area607 and the defect management area DMA3/DMA4 691 in the lead-out area609 on the information storage medium (optical disk) 201 and checks thedistribution of defects in the information storage medium (optical disk)201 at that point of time (step ST141).

Once having known the distribution of defects in the information storagemedium (optical disk) 201 from the defect distribution check, thecontrol section 220 corrects the conversion table created on theassumption that there is no defect at step ST140, according to theactual distribution of defects (step ST142). Specifically, in each ofthe parts where it has become clear that there is a defect, the logicalsector number LSN corresponding to the physical sector number PSN isshifted.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart to help explain an example of the operation ofprocessing defects in a DVD-RAM disk or the like (the process on thedrive side). The flowchart of FIG. 13 will be explained by reference toFIG. 11, too. First, for example, the begin logical block number LBN ofthe information to be recorded on the medium (for example, DVD-RAM disk)now installed in the drive and the file size of the information to berecorded are specified to the MPU in the control section 220 (stepST151).

Then, the MPU of the control section 220 calculates the begin logicalsector number LSN for the information to be recorded from the specifiedbegin logical block number LBN (step ST152). From the calculated beginlogical sector number LSN and specified file size, the write logicalsector number to the information storage medium (optical disk) 201 isdetermined.

Next, the MPU of the control section 220 not only writes a recordinginformation file in the specified address on the DVD-RAM disk 201 butalso checks for a defect in the disk 201 (step ST153).

When no defect has been found in the course of writing the file, thismeans that the recording information file has been recorded in aspecific logical sector number with no abnormality (that is, without theoccurrence of errors) and the recording process is completed properly(step ST155).

On the other hand, if a defect has been found in the course of writingthe file, a specific replacement process, for example, a linearreplacement algorithm, will be executed (step ST156).

After the replacement process, the newly sensed defect is registeredadditionally in DMA1/DMA2 663 of the lead-in area 607 and DMA3/DMA4 691of the lead-out area 609 on the disk (see FIGS. 3 and 4) (step ST157).After the defect has been registered additionally in DMA1/DMA2 663 andDMA3/DMA4 691 on the information storage medium (optical disk) 201, thecontents of the conversion table created at step ST140 of FIG. 12 arecorrected on the basis of what has been registered in DMA1/DMA2 663 andDMA3/DMA4 691 (step ST158).

Next, UDF, a type of file system, will be explained by reference toFIGS. 14 and 15.

(A-1)

UDF is the abbreviation for universal disk format and shows “the rulefor file management method” mainly in disk information storage mediums.CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-Video, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, and DVD-RAM haveemployed the UDF format standardized in ISO 9660.

The file management method is based on a hierarchical file system wherea root directory is provided as a parent and files are managed in treeform. Although the UDF format complying with the DVD-RAM standard (filesystem specifications) will be chiefly explained, most part of theexplanation also coincides with the contents of the DVD-ROM standard.

(A-2) ··· Summary of UDF

(A-2-1) Contents of File Information Recorded on Information StorageMedium

When information is recorded on an information storage medium, a blockof information is called “file data.” Recording is done in units of filedata. To distinguish between one file data item from another, each filedata item is assigned a unique file name. Grouping file data items thathave the common contents of information facilitates file management andfile retrieval. Such a group of file data items is called “directory” or“folder.” Each directory is assigned a unique directory name (foldername). The directories may be collected into a high-order directory(high-order folder) as a group at a higher level of hierarchy. Here, thefiled data and directory are generically called a file.

To record information, all the information about the following isrecorded on an information storage medium:

Contents of file data items themselves

File name corresponding to the file data

Storage location of the file data (under which directory recording isdone)

In addition, all the following information about each directory (folder)is also recorded on the information storage medium:

Directory name (folder name)

Location (location of a higher-order directory (higher-order folder)acting as its parent) to which each directory (folder) belongs

(A-2-2) Information Recording form on Information Storage Medium

All the recording area on an information storage medium is divided intological sectors using the smallest unit of 2048 bytes. All the logicalsectors are assigned logical sector numbers in sequence. Wheninformation is recorded on the information storage medium, informationis recorded in logical sectors. The recording locations on theinformation storage medium are managed by the logical sector numbers ofthe logical sectors in which the information has been recorded.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, logical sectors in which information abouta file structure 486 and file data 487 have been recorded areparticularly called “logical blocks” and assigned logical block numbers(LBN) interlocking with logical sector numbers (LSN). (A logical blockhas 2048 bytes long as a logical sector does.)

(A-2-3) Simplified Example of Hierarchical File System

In FIG. 16, the letter a indicates a simplified example of ahierarchical file system.

The file management system of almost every OS, including UNIX, MacOS,MS-DOS, and Windows, has a tree-like hierarchical structure as shown bya in FIG. 16.

For each disk drive (or each partition unit when a single HDD is dividedinto partitions), one root directly 401 acting as a parent for the wholedrive exists. A subdirectory 402 belongs to the root directory. In thesubdirectory 402, file data 403 exists.

There may be a case where file data 403 exists directly under the rootdirectory 401 or where subdirectories 402 are connected in series toform a complex hierarchical structure.

(A-2-4) Contents of File Management Information Recorded on theInformation Storage Medium

The file management information is recorded in logical blocks. Thecontents recorded in each logical block include mainly the followingitems marked with *:

* Statement indicating, information on files (FID as a fileidentification descriptor: file identification descriptor) ··· The typesof files and file names (including root directory name, subdirectoryname, and file data name) are written in the statement. In the FID, thecontents of the data in the file following it and the statementindicating the location where the contents of the directory (that is,the location where the FE (file entry) explained below corresponding tothe corresponding file) are written.

* Description of the location where the contents of a file are recorded(FE as file entry) The contents of the file data and the location(logical block number) on an information storage medium on whichinformation about the contents of directories (such as subdirectories)have been recorded are written.

FIG. 21 shows an extract from the contents of the description of a fileidentification descriptor (explained later). Its detailed explanationwill be given in “(B-4) Description of file identifier”

In a DVD-RAM, a logical block (sector size) contains 2048 bytes. Acollection of logical blocks is called an extent. An extent is eitherone logical block or logical blocks assigned consecutive logical addressnumbers (LBN). To access the file data recorded on an informationstorage medium, pieces of information are read one by one according tothe access route of FIG. 16 and access to the addresses (AD (*), LAD(*)) shown in the pieces of information is repeated, thereby accessingthe desired file data.

Next, the statement indicating a recording location on the informationstorage medium uses a long allocation descriptor of FIG. 17 and a shortallocation descriptor of FIG. 18A. FIG. 17 gives a general idea showingthe basis relationship between a hierarchical file system structure andthe contents of the information recorded on the information storagemedium.

Their detailed explanation will be given in “(B-1-2) Long allocationdescriptor” and “(B-1-3) Short allocation descriptor.”

The contents of the information with the file system structure indicatedby a of FIG. 16 recorded on the information storage medium are as shownby b of FIG. 16. The contents of the record indicated by a of FIG. 16are as follows.

* The contents of the root directory 401 are written in the logicalblock with logical block number “1.”

··· Since in the example of a of FIG. 16, the root directory 401includes only the subdirectory 402, information about the subdirectory402 is written as the contents of the root directory 401 in the fileidentification descriptor statement 404.

Although not shown, information on the root directory 401 itself is alsowritten in the file identification descriptor statement in the samelogical block.

··· The location (the second logical block in the example of b of FIG.16) where a file entry statement 405 showing where the contents of thesubdirectory 402 have been recorded has been recorded is written (LAD(2)) in a long allocation descriptor statement in the fileidentification descriptor statement 404 in the subdirectory.

* A file entry statement 405 showing the location where the contents ofthe subdirectory 402 have been recorded is recorded in the logical blockwith logical block number “2.”

··· Since in the example of a of FIG. 16, the subdirectory 402 includesonly the file data 403, the contents of the subdirectory 402 virtuallyindicate the location where a file identification descriptor statement406 in which information about the file data 403 has been written.

··· In the short allocation (short allocation) descriptor statement inthe file entry statement, the fact (AD (3)) that the contents of thesubdirectory 402 have been recorded in the third logical block iswritten.

* ··· The contents of the subdirectory 402 are recorded in the logicalblock with logical block number “3.”

··· Since in the example of a of FIG. 16, the subdirectory 402 includesonly the file data 403, information about the file data 403 is writtenas the contents of the subdirectory 402 in the file identificationdescriptor statement 406. Although not shown, information on thesubdirectory 402 itself is also written in the file identificationdescriptor statement in the same logical block.

··· The location (the fourth logical block in the example of b of FIG.16) where a file entry statement 407 showing where the contents of thefile data 403 have been recorded has been recorded is written (LAD (4))in a long allocation descriptor statement in the file identificationdescriptor statement 404 related to the file data 403.

* A file entry statement 407 showing the location where the contents408, 409 of the file data 403 have been recorded is recorded in thelogical block with logical block number “4.”

··· In the short allocation descriptor statement in the file entrystatement 407, the fact that the contents 408, 409 of the file data 403have been recorded in the fifth and sixth logical blocks is written ((AD(5), AD (6)).

* The contents (a) 408 of the file data 403 are recorded in the logicalblock with logical block number “5.”

* The contents (b) 409 of the file data 403 are recorded in the logicalblock with logical block number “6.”

(A-2-5)

A method of accessing the file data according to the informationindicated by b of FIG. 16

As briefly explained in “(A-2-4) Contents of file system informationrecorded on the information storage medium,” the logical block numbersin which the subsequent information has been written are written in thefile identification descriptors 404, 406 and file entries 405, 407. Asthe file data is reached by way of subdirectories, going down thehierarchy from the root directory, the contents of the file data areaccessed by reproducing the pieces of information in the logical blockson the information storage medium one by one according to the logicalblock numbers written in the file identification descriptor and fileentry.

Specifically, To access file data item 403 for the information indicatedby b of FIG. 16, the information in the first logical block is read forthe first time.

Since the file data 403 exists in the subdirectory 402, after theinformation in the first logical block is searched for the fileidentification descriptor 404 in the subdirectory 402 and LAD (2) isread, the information in the second logical block is read according toLAD (2). Since only one file entry statement has been written in thesecond logical block, AD (3) in the second logical block is read andcontrol proceeds to the third logical block. In the third logical block,the file identification descriptor 406 in which information about thefile data 403 has been written is searched for and LAD (4) is read.According to LAD (4), control moves to the fourth logical block. Sinceonly one file entry statement 407 has been written in the fourth logicalblock, AD (5) and AD (6) are read and the logical block numbers (thefifth and sixth ones) where the contents of the file data 403 have beenrecorded are found.

The contents of AD (*) and LAD (*) will be explained in detail in “(B)Concrete explanation of the contents of each statement (descriptor) inUDF.”

(A-3) Characteristics of UDF

(A-3-1) Explanation of the Characteristic of UDF Hereinafter, theCharacteristics of UDF will be Explained in Comparison with FAT used inHDD, FDD, or MO.

(1) UDF uses larger minimum units (including the smallest logical blocksize and smallest logical sector size) and is suitable for recordingvideo information or music information that is large in the amount ofinformation to be recorded.

··· The size of a UDF logical sector (block) is as large as 2048 bytes,whereas the size of a FAT logical sector is 512 bytes.

(2) While FAT causes a table for managing the allocation of files to aninformation storage medium (file allocation table) to be recordedcollectively in a local part of the information storage medium, UDFallows the file management information to be recorded in a distributedmanner in any location on the disk.

··· In UDF, the locations where the file management information and filedata are recorded on the disk are written in logical sector (block)numbers in an allocation descriptor.

* Since FAT provides centralized management in the file management area(file allocation table), it is suitable for applications that requiresthe file structure to be changed frequently (mainly use for frequentrewriting) (because the management information is written in theintensive locations, it can be rewritten easily). Since the locationwhere the file management information (file allocation table) isrecorded has been determined beforehand, it is a precondition that therecording medium has a high reliability (or few defective areas).

* Since in UDF, the file management information is placed in adistributed manner, there are few great changes in the file structure.UDF is suitable for applications that add a new file structure later(mainly additional recording use) in the lower part of the hierarchy(mainly the part below the root directory) (because in the case ofadditional recording, few changes are made to the original filemanagement information). Moreover, since the locations where thedistributed file management information is recorded can be specifiedarbitrarily, recording can be done, avoiding congenital defective parts.

Since the file management information can be recorded in any location,all the file management information may be gathered and recorded in oneplace, producing the effect of FAT. Therefore, UDF can be considered tobe a highly versatile file system.

(B) Concrete Explanation of each Statement (Descriptor) in UDF (B-1)Statement of Logical Block Number

(B-1-1) Allocation Descriptor

As described in “(A-2-4) Contents of file system information recorded onthe information storage medium,” a statement included in part of a fileidentification descriptor or a file entry and indicating the location(logical block number) where the subsequent information has-beenrecorded is called an allocation descriptor. Allocation descriptorsinclude long allocation descriptors and short allocation descriptorsexplained below.

(B-1-2) Long Allocation Descriptors

As shown in FIG. 17, a long allocation descriptor is composed of thefollowing:

* The length of an extent 410 ··· The number of logical blocks isexpressed in four bytes.

* The location of an extent 411 ··· The corresponding logical blocknumber is expressed in four bytes.

* Implementation use 412 ··· The information used in operation isexpressed in eight bytes.

In the explanation, a long allocation descriptor is abbreviated as “LAD(logical block number).”

(B-1-3) Short Allocation Descriptors

As shown in FIG. 18A, a short allocation descriptor is composed of onlythe following:

* The length of an extent 410 ··· The number of logical blocks isexpressed in four bytes.

* The location of an extent 411 ··· The corresponding logical blocknumber is expressed in four bytes.

In the explanation, a short allocation descriptor is abbreviated as “AD(logical block number).”

FIG. 18B shows an example of description in the extent length 410. Forexample, the first two bits may indicate the attribute of the extent.

When the first two bits are “0,” this means an extent created byactually recording AV file data in the data area. When the first twobits are “1,” this means an unused extent secured in the data area inwhich AV file data is to be recorded. When the first two bits are “2,”this means that any extent has been neither recorded nor secured. Whenthe first two bits are “3,” this means that the extent is an extentfollowing the allocation descriptor. These pieces of information may beused in the long allocation descriptor of FIG. 17.

(B-2) Unlocated Space Entry

Unlocated space entry is used in a space table (see FIGS. 14 and 15), astatement that writes, for example, “the extent distribution ofunrecorded state” on the information storage medium for each extent inshort allocation descriptors as shown in FIG. 19 and arranges them. Theconcrete contents written in an unlocated space entry are as follows:

* Descriptor tag 413 ··· Represents the descriptor for the description,particularly “263” in this case.

* ICB tag 414 ··· Represents the file type.

When the file type=1 in the ICB tag, this means an unlocated spaceentry. When the file type=4, this means that the file is a directory.When the file type=5, this means that it is explained that the file is asequence of bytes that may be accessed at random.

* The total length of a string of allocation descriptors 415 ··· Thetotal number of bytes is expressed in four bytes.

(B-3) File Entry

This is almost the same as the statement explained in “(A-2-4) Contentsof file system information recorded on the information storage medium”.

As shown in FIG. 20A, the following are written in the file entry:

* Descriptor tag 417 ··· Represents the descriptor for the description,particularly “261” in this case.

* ICB tag 418 ··· Represents the file type→the contents are the same asin (B-2).

* Permissions 419 ··· Represents record/reproduce/delete permissioninformation by user. Used mainly to maintain the security of the file.When the user is allowed to access the information, he or she can accessit.

* Allocation descriptor 420 Writes the locations where the contents ofthe relevant file have been recorded by arranging short allocationdescriptors for each extent.

FIG. 20B shows the file entry information in a hierarchical manner tosummarize the above explanation. In the file entry (FE), at least theICB tag and allocation descriptor are written. Moreover, the permissioninformation and further information on the information length may bewritten. (See c in FIG. 44 explained later.)

In the field of the ICB tag, a field in which file types are to bewritten is further provided. In the file type field, a field in whichidentification of a real-time file, or an AV file, is to be written issecured. In the case of real-time file, file type=249 is written in thisfield.

When a volume set is composed of a single volume, a short allocationstatement (see FIG. 18) is used in the allocation descriptor.

(B-4) File Identification Descriptor

This is almost the same as the statement explained in “(A-2-4) Contentsof file system information recorded on the information storage medium”.As shown in FIG. 21, the following are written in the fileidentification descriptor:

* Descriptor tag 411 ··· Represents the descriptor for the description,particularly “257”, in this case.

* File characteristic 422 ··· Represents the type of file and means anyone of parent directory, directory, file data, and file delete flag.

* Information control block 423 ··· The FE location corresponding to thefile is written in long allocation descriptors.

* File identifier 424 ··· Directory name or file name.

* Padding ··· Dummy area added to adjust the total length of, the fileidentification descriptor and usually filled with “0.”

(C) Example of Description of a File Structure Recorded on theInformation Storage Medium According to UDF

The contents of “(A-2) Summary of UDF” will be described in detail usinga concrete example.

FIG. 22 shows a more common file system structure for a of FIG. 16. Thenumerals in the parentheses represent the logical block numbers on theinformation storage medium on which information about the contents ofthe directories or the contents of the file data have been recorded.

An example of recording information about the file system structure ofFIG. 22 according to the UDF format is shown in.the file structure 486of FIGS. 14 and 15.

Methods of managing unrecorded locations on the information storagemedium includes the following two methods:

* Space bit map (space bit map) method

··· Either a “recorded” flag or an “unrecorded” flag is set in a bit mapmanner for all the logical blocks in the recording area on theinformation storage medium using space bit map descriptors 470.

* Space table (space table) method

··· All the unrecorded logical block numbers are written in the form ofa list of short allocation descriptors using a method of writing anunlocated space entry 471.

In the explanation of the present embodiment, although the two methodshave been shown intentionally in FIGS. 14 and 15, actually however, thetwo methods are hardly used (recorded on the information storage medium)at the same time and only one of them is used.

An outline of the contents of the chief descriptors written in FIGS. 14and 15 is as follows.

· Beginning Extended area descriptor 445 ··· Represents the startposition of a volume recognition sequence.

· Boot descriptor 447 ··· Writes the contents of the process in booting.

· Terminating Extended area descriptor 448 ··· Represents the endposition of the volume recognition sequence.

· Partition (division) descriptor 450 ··· Represents partitioninformation (such as size). As a general rule, a DVD-RAM has a partition(part (division)) per volume.

· Logical volume descriptor 454 ··· Writes the contents of a logicalvolume.

Anchor volume descriptor 458 ··· Indicates the locations where the mainvolume descriptor sequences 449 and 467 are recorded in the recordingarea of the information storage medium.

· Reserved (all00h bytes) 459 to 465 ··· Provides an adjusting areawhich is filled with “0” to secure logical sector numbers to recordspecific descriptors.

· Reserved volume descriptor sequence 467 ··· Backup area for theinformation recorded in the main volume descriptor sequence 449.

(D) A Method of Accessing the File Data in Reproduction

Explanation will be given about a method of accessing the informationstorage medium to reproduce the contents of, for example, file data H432(see FIG. 22) using the file system information shown in FIGS. 14 and15.

(1) The information in the boot descriptor 447 in the volume acknowledgesequence 444 area serving as the boot area at the time of starting theinformation recording and reproducing device or installing theinformation storage medium is reproduced.

(2) The process in booting is started according to the contents of theboot descriptor 447. When no process in booting is specified, theinformation in the logical volume descriptor (logical volume descriptor)454 in the main volume description sequence (main volume descriptorsequence) 449 area is first reproduced.

(3) Logical volume contents use 455 has been written in the logicalvolume descriptor 454. In the logical volume contents use, the logicalblock number indicating the location where a file set descriptor 472 hasbeen recorded has been written in the form of a long allocationdescriptor (see FIG. 17). (In the example of FIGS. 14 and 15, it hasbeen written in the 100^(th) logical block counting from LAD (100).)

(4) The 100^(th) logical block (or logical sector number 372) isaccessed and the file set descriptor 472 is reproduced. In the rootdirectory ICB 473 in the file set descriptor, the location (logicalblock number) where the file entry for the root directory A425 has beenrecorded has been written in the form of a long allocation descriptor(see FIG. 17). (In the example of FIGS. 14 and 15, it has been writtenin the 102^(nd) logical block counting from LAD (102).) According to LAD(102) in the root directory ICB473,

(5) According to LAD (102) in the root directory ICB 473, the 102^(nd)logical block is accessed. Then, the file entry 475 for the rootdirectory A425 is reproduced and the location (logical block number)where information about the contents of the root directory A425 has beenrecorded is read (AD(103)).

(6) The 103^(rd) logical block is accessed and information about thecontents of the root directory A425 is reproduced.

Because the file data H432 exists under the directory D428 system, thefile identification descriptor for the directory D428 is searched forand the logical block number (LAD (110) although not shown in FIGS. 14and 15) where the file entry for the directory D428 has been recorded isread.

(7) The 110^(th) logical block is accessed and the file entry 480 forthe directory D428 is reproduced. Then, the location (logical blocknumber) where information about the contents of the directory D428 hasbeen recorded is read (AD(111)).

(8) The 111^(th) logical block is accessed and information about thecontents of the directory D428 is reproduced.

Because the file data H432 exists directly under the directory F430, thefile identification descriptor for the subdirectory F430 is searched forand the logical block number (LAD (112) although not shown in FIGS. 14and 15) where the file entry for the subdirectory F430 has been recordedis read.

(9) The 112^(th) logical block is accessed and the file entry 482 forthe subdirectory F430 is reproduced. Then, the location (logical blocknumber) where information about the contents of the subdirectory F430has been recorded is read (AD(113)).

(10) The 113^(th) logical block is accessed and information about thecontents of the subdirectory F430 is reproduced. Then, the fileidentification descriptor for the file data H432 is searched for. Fromthe descriptor, the logical block number (LAD (114) although not shownin FIGS. 14 and 15) where the file entry for the subdirectory H432 hasbeen recorded is read.

(11) The 114^(th) logical block is accessed and the file entry 484 forthe file data H432 is reproduced. Then, the location where the contentsof the file data H432 has been recorded is read.

(12) The information is read from the information storage medium in theorder in which the logical block numbers have been written in the fileentry 484 for the file data H432, thereby reading the contents of thefile data H432.

(E) Method of Changing the Contents of Specific File Data

A processing method including a case where the contents of, for example,file data H432 are changed will be explained using the file systeminformation shown in FIGS. 14 and 15.

(1) The difference between the volume of the contents of data before andafter the file data H432 is changed is calculated. The resulting valueis divided by 2048 bytes, thereby calculating beforehand how manyadditional logical blocks are needed or how many logical blocks areunnecessary.

(2) The information in the boot descriptor 447 in the volume recognitionsequence 444 area serving as the boot area at the time of starting theinformation recording and reproducing device or installing theinformation storage medium is reproduced. The process in booting isstarted according to the contents of the boot descriptor 447.

When no process in booting is specified, control proceeds as follows.

(3) The partition (part (division)) descriptor 450 in the main volumedescriptor sequence 449 area is reproduced and the information in thepartition (division) contents use 451 written in the descriptor is read.The location where the space table or space bit map has been recorded isshown in the partition (division) contents use 451 (also referred to aspartition (division) header descriptor).

· The location of the space table is written in the column of theunallocated space table 452 in the form of a short allocation descriptor(AD(50) in the example of FIGS. 14 and 15).

· The location of the space bit map table is written in the column ofthe unallocated space bit map 453 in the form of a short allocationdescriptor (AD(0) in the example of FIGS. 14 and 15).

(4) The logical block number (0) where the space bit map read in (3) hasbeen written is accessed. The space bit map information is read from thespace bit map descriptor 470. Then, unregistered logical blocks aresearched for and use of as many logical blocks as equal the result ofcalculation in item (1) is registered (the process of rewriting thespace bit map descriptor 460 information). Alternatively,

(4′) The logical block number (50) where the space table read in (3) hasbeen written is accessed. Then, USE(AD(*), AD(*), ···, AD(*)) 471 in thespace table is searched for unregistered logical blocks and use of asmany logical blocks as equal the result of calculation in item (1) isregistered (the process of rewriting the space table information).

· Actually, either process (4) or process (4′) is carried out.

(5) Next, the information in the logical volume descriptor 454 in themain volume descriptor sequence 449 area is reproduced.

(6) The logical volume content use 455 has been written in the logicalvolume descriptor 454. In the descriptor, the logical block numberindicating the location where the file set descriptor 472 has beenrecorded has been written in the form of a long allocation descriptor(FIG. 17). (In the example of FIGS. 14 and 15, the descriptor has beenrecorded in the 100^(th) logical block counting from LAD(100).)

(7) The 100^(th) logical block (or logical sector number 400) isaccessed and the file set descriptor 472 is reproduced. In the rootdirectory ICB473 in the descriptor, the location (logical block number)where the file entry for the root directory A425 has been recorded hasbeen written in the form of a long allocation descriptor (see FIG. 16)(in the example of FIGS. 14 and 15, the file entry has been recorded inthe 102^(nd) logical block counting from LAD(102)).

(8) According to LAD(102) in the root directory ICB473, the 102^(nd)logical block is accessed. Then, the file entry 475 for the rootdirectory A425 is reproduced and the location (logical block number)where information about the contents of the root directory A425 has beenrecorded is read (AD(103)).

(9) The 103^(rd) logical block is accessed and information about thecontents of the root directory A425 is reproduced.

Because the file data A432 exists under the directory D428 system, thefile identification descriptor for the directory D428 is searched forand the logical block number (LAD(110) although not shown in FIGS. 14and 15) where the file entry for the directory D428 has been recorded isread.

(10) The 110^(th) logical block is accessed. Then, the file entry 480for the directory D428 is reproduced and the location (logical blocknumber) where information about the contents of the directory D428 hasbeen recorded is read (AD(111)).

(11) The 111^(th) logical block is accessed and information about thecontents of the directory D428 is reproduced.

Because the file data H432 exists directly under the directory F430, thefile identification descriptor for the subdirectory F430 is searched forand the logical block number (LAD (112) although not shown in FIGS. 14and 15) where the file entry for the subdirectory F430 has been recordedis read.

(12) The 112^(th) logical block is accessed and the file entry 482 forthe subdirectory F430 is reproduced. Then, the location (logical blocknumber) where information about the contents of the subdirectory F430has been recorded is read (AD(113)).

(13) The 113^(th) logical block is accessed and information about thecontents of the subdirectory F430 is reproduced. Then, the fileidentification descriptor for the file data H432 is searched for. Fromthe descriptor, the logical block number (LAD(114) although not shown inFIGS. 14 and 15) where the file entry for the subdirectory H432 has beenrecorded is read.

(14) The 114^(th) logical block is accessed and the file entry 484 forthe file data H432 is reproduced. Then, the location where the contentsof the file data H432 has been recorded is read.

(15) The contents 489 of the modified file data H432 are recorded,taking into account the logical block numbers registered additionally ineither (4) or (4′).

(F) A Method of Deleting Specific File Data/directory

As an example, a method of deleting file data H432 or subdirectory F430will be explained.

(1) The information in the boot descriptor 447 in the volume recognitionsequence 444 area serving as the boot area at the time of starting theinformation recording and reproducing device or installing theinformation storage medium is reproduced.

(2) The process in booting is started according to the contents of theboot descriptor 447. When no process in booting is specified, theinformation in the logical volume descriptor 454 in the main volumedescription sequence 449 area is first reproduced.

(3) Logical volume contents use 455 has been written in the logicalvolume descriptor 454. In the logical volume contents use, the logicalblock number indicating the location where the file set descriptor 472has been recorded has been written in the form of a long allocationdescriptor (see FIG. 17) (in the example of FIGS. 14 and 15, it has beenwritten in the 100^(th) logical block counting from LAD (100)).

(4) The 100^(th) logical block (or logical sector number 400) isaccessed and the file set descriptor 472 is reproduced. In the rootdirectory ICB 473 in the file set descriptor, the location (logicalblock number) where the file entry for the root directory A425 has beenrecorded has been written in the form of a long allocation descriptor(see FIG. 17) (in the example of FIGS. 14 and 15, it has been written inthe 102^(nd) logical block counting from LAD (102)).

(5) According to LAD (102) in the root directory ICB 473, the 102^(nd)logical block is accessed. Then, the file entry 475 for the rootdirectory A425 is reproduced and the location (logical block number)where information about the contents of the root directory A425 has beenrecorded is read (AD(103)).

(6) The 103^(rd) logical block is accessed and information about thecontents of the root directory A425 is reproduced.

Because the file data H432 exists under the directory D428 system, thefile identification descriptor for the directory D428 is searched forand the logical block number (LAD (110) although not shown in FIGS. 14and 15) where the file entry for the directory D428 has been recorded isread.

(7) The 110^(th) logical block is accessed and the file entry 480 forthe directory D428 is reproduced. Then, the location (logical blocknumber) where information about the contents of the directory D428 hasbeen recorded is read (AD(111)).

(8) The 111^(th) logical block is accessed and information about thecontents of the directory D428 is reproduced.

Because the file data H432 exists directly under the directory F430, thefile identification descriptor for the subdirectory F430 is searchedfor.

<To Delete Subdirectory F430, the Process as Described Below is CarriedOut>

“File delete flag” is set in the file characteristic 422 (see FIG. 21)in the file identification descriptor for the subdirectory F430.

The logical block number (LAD(112) although not shown in FIGS. 14 and15) where the file entry for the subdirectory F430 has been recorded isread.

(9) The 112^(th) logical block is accessed and the file entry 482 forthe subdirectory F430 is reproduced. Then, the location (logical blocknumber) where information about the contents of the subdirectory F430has been recorded is read (AD(113)).

(10) The 113^(th) logical block is accessed and information about thecontents of the subdirectory F430 is reproduced. Then, the fileidentification descriptor for the file data H432 is searched for.

<To Delete Subdirectory H432, the Process as Described Below is CarriedOut>

“File delete flag” is set in the file characteristic 422 (see FIG. 21)in the file identification descriptor for the subdirectory F432. Fromthe descriptor, the logical block number (LAD (114) although not shownin FIGS. 14 and 15) where the file entry for the subdirectory H432 hasbeen recorded is read.

(11) The 114^(th) logical block is accessed and the file entry 484 forthe file data H432 is reproduced. Then, the location where the contentsof the file data H432 has been recorded is read.

<To Delete File H432, the Process as Described Below is Carried Out>

The logical blocks in which the contents of data 489 of the file dataH432 have been recorded are released (or the logical blocks areregistered in the unrecorded state).

(12) The partition (division) descriptor 450 in the main volumedescriptor sequence 449 area is reproduced and the information in thepartition (division) contents use 451 written in the descriptor is read.The location where the space table or space bit map has been recorded isshown in the partition (division) contents use 451 (also referred to aspartition (division) header descriptor).

· The location of the space table is written in the column of theunallocated space table 452 in the form of a short allocation descriptor(AD(50) in the example of FIGS. 14 and 15).

· The location of the space bit map table is written in the column ofthe unallocated space bit map 453 in the form of a short allocationdescriptor (AD(0) in the example of FIGS. 14 and 15).

(13) The logical block number (0) where the space bit map read in item(12) has been written is accessed. The “logical block numbers to bereleased” obtained as the result of item (11) are rewritten into a spacebit map descriptor 470. Alternatively,

(13′) The logical block number (50) where the space table read in item(12) has been written is accessed. Then, the “logical block numbers tobe released” obtained as the result of item (11) are rewritten into aspace table.

· Actually, either item (13) or process (13′) is carried out.

<To delete file H432, the process as described below is carried out>

(12) The location where the contents of the file data H432 have beenrecorded is read following the same procedures in item (10) and item(11).

(13) Next, the partition (division) descriptor 450 in the main volumedescriptor sequence 449 area is reproduced and the information in thepartition (division) contents use 451 written in the descriptor is read.The location where the space table or space bit map has been recorded isshown in the partition (division) contents use 451.

· The location of the space table is written in the column of theunallocated space table 452 in the form of a short allocation descriptor(AD(50) in the example of FIGS. 14 and 15).

· The location of the space bit map table is written in the column ofthe unallocated space bit map 453 in the form of a short allocationdescriptor (AD(0) in the example of FIGS. 14 and 15).

(14) The logical block number (0) where the space bit map read in item(13) has been written is accessed. The “logical block numbers to bereleased” obtained as the results of item (11) and item (12) arerewritten into a space bit map descriptor 470. Alternatively,

(14′) The logical block number (50) where the space table read in item(13) has been written is accessed. Then, the “logical block numbers tobe released” obtained as the results of item (11) and item (12) arerewritten into a space table.

· Actually, either item (14) or process (14′) is carried out.

(G) The Process of Adding File Data/directory

As a example, explanation will be given about an accessing and addingmethod in adding new file data or directories under the subdirectoryF430.

(1) To add file data, the volume of the contents of the file data to beadded is checked. The resulting value is divided by 2048 bytes, therebycalculating beforehand the number of logical blocks needed to add filedata.

(2) The information in the boot descriptor 447 in the volume recognitionsequence 444 area serving as the boot area at the time of starting theinformation recording and reproducing device or installing theinformation storage medium is reproduced. The process in booting isstarted according to the contents of the boot descriptor 447. When noprocess in booting is specified, control proceeds as follows.

(3) The partition (division) descriptor 450 in the main volumedescriptor sequence 449 area is reproduced and then the information inthe partition (division) contents use 451 written in the descriptor isread. The location where the space table or space bit map has beenrecorded is shown in the partition (division) contents use 451 (alsoreferred to as partition (division) header descriptor).

· The location of the space table is written in the column of theunallocated space table 452 in the form of a short allocation descriptor(AD(50) in the example of FIGS. 14 and 15).

· The location of the space bit map table is written in the column ofthe unallocated space bit map 453 in the form of a short allocationdescriptor (AD(0) in the example of FIGS. 14 and 15).

(4) The logical block number (0) where the space bit map read in item(3) has been written is accessed. The space bit map information is readfrom the space bit map descriptor 470. Then, unregistered logical blocksare searched for and use of as many logical blocks as equal the resultof calculation in item (1) is registered (the process of rewriting thespace bit map descriptor 460 information). Alternatively,

(4′) The logical block number (50) where the space table read in item(3) has been written is accessed. Then, USE(AD(*), AD(*), ···, AD(*))471 in the space table is searched for unregistered logical blocks anduse of as many logical blocks as equal the result of calculation in item(1) is registered.

· Actually, either process (4) or process (4′) is carried out.

(The process of rewriting the space table information)

(5) Next, the information in the logical volume descriptor 454 in themain volume descriptor sequence 449 area is reproduced.

(6) The logical volume content use 455 has been written in the logicalvolume descriptor 454. In the descriptor, the logical block numberindicating the location where the file set descriptor 472 has beenrecorded has been written in the form of a long allocation descriptor(see FIG. 17). (In the example of FIGS. 14 and 15, the descriptor hasbeen recorded in the 100^(th) logical block counting from LAD(100).)

(7) The 100^(th) logical block (or logical sector number 400) isaccessed and the file set descriptor 472 is reproduced. In the rootdirectory ICB473 in the descriptor, the location (logical block number)where the file entry for the root directory A425 has been recorded hasbeen written in the form of a long allocation descriptor (see FIG. 17)(in the example of FIGS. 14 and 15, the file entry has been recorded inthe 102^(nd) logical block counting from LAD(102)).

(8) According to LAD(102) in the root directory ICB473, the 102^(nd)logical block is accessed. Then, the file entry 475 for the rootdirectory A425 is reproduced and the location (logical block number)where information about the contents of the root directory A425 has beenrecorded is read (AD(103)).

(9) The 103^(rd) logical block is accessed and information about thecontents of the root directory A425 is reproduced.

The file identification descriptor for the directory D428 is searchedfor and the logical block number (LAD(110) although not shown in FIGS.14 and 15) where the file entry for the directory D428 has been recordedis read.

(10) The 110^(th) logical block is accessed. Then, the file entry 480for the directory D428 is reproduced and the location (logical blocknumber) where information about the contents of the directory D428 hasbeen recorded is read (AD(111)).

(11) The 111^(th) logical block is accessed and information about thecontents of the directory D428 is reproduced.

The file identification descriptor for the subdirectory F430 is searchedfor and the logical block number (LAD (112) although not shown in FIGS.14 and 15) where the file entry for the subdirectory F430 has beenrecorded is read.

(12) The 112^(th) logical block is accessed and the file entry 482 forthe subdirectory F430 is reproduced. Then, the location (logical blocknumber) where information about the contents of the subdirectory F430has been recorded is read (AD(113)).

(13) The 113^(th) logical block is accessed and the file identificationdescriptor for the file data or directory to be added newly toinformation about the contents of the subdirectory F430 is registered.

(14) The location where the logic block number has been registered initem (4) or (4′) is accessed and the file data or directory to be newlyadded is recorded.

(15) The location for the logical block number shown in the shortallocation descriptor in the file entry in (14) is accessed. Then, thefile identification descriptor for the parent directory related to thedirectory to be added or the contents of the file data to be added isrecorded.

The contents (data structure) of the information recorded on aninformation storage medium (optical disk 1001) on and from which videoinformation and audio information of FIG. 23 can be recorded orreproduced will be explained below by reference to FIGS. 24 and 25.

A schematic data structure of the information recorded on theinformation storage medium 1001 is such that, as indicated by b in FIG.23, the information is divided as follows starting from the inner edgeside 1006:

· A lead-in area 1002 having an embossed data zone whose reflectingsurface is uneven, a mirror zone whose surface is flat (mirror-like),and a rewritable data zone where information is rewritable, volume andfile management information 1003 in which information about files of orthe entire amount of audio and video data recorded in a rewritable tabledata zone that allows the user to record or rewrite data is to berecorded, a data area 1004 composed of a rewritable table data zone thatenables the user to record or rewrite data, and a lead-out area 1005composed of a rewritable table data zone where information isrewritable.

In the embossed data zone of the lead-in area 1002, the following havebeen recorded beforehand:

· Information about an entire information storage medium, including disktype, such as DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, or DVD-R, disk size, recording density,and physical sector numbers indicating the recording start/recording endlocations.

· Information about recording, reproducing, and deletingcharacteristics, including recording power, recording pulse width,deleting power, reproducing power, and linear velocity in recording anddeleting.

· Information about the manufacture of each information storage medium,such as serial number.

Each of the rewritable table data zone of the lead-in area 1002 and therewritable table data zone of the lead-out area 1005 has the following:

· Disk name recording zone unique to each information storage medium.

· Trial recording zone (for checking recording and deleting conditions).

· Management information recording zone for defective areas in the dataarea 1004.

An information recording and reproducing device can record data in theabove zones.

In the data area 1004 sandwiched between the lead-in area 1002 andlead-out area 1005, computer data and audio & video data can be recordedin a mixed manner as indicated by c in FIG. 23. The order in which thecomputer data and audio & video data are recorded and the recordinginformation size of each of them are arbitrary. Areas in which thecomputer data is recorded are called computer data areas 1008, 1010 andan area in which the audio & video data is recorded is called audio &video data area 1009.

The data structure of the information recorded in the audio & video dataarea 1009 is composed of the following-as shown by d in FIG. 23:

· Anchor pointer information 1015 for control information→Informationindicating the begin position (begin address) where control information1011 has been recorded in the audio & video data area 1009.

· Control information 1011→Control information necessary to carry outeach of video recording (audio recording), reproducing, editing, andretrieving.

· Video objects 1012→Video recording information about the contents ofvideo data.

· Picture objects 1013→Still picture information about still pictures orslide pictures.

· Audio objects 1014→Audio recording information about the contents ofaudio data.

· Thumbnail objects 1016→Information including thumbnails used insearching for the desired place in the video data or in editing.

The video objects 1012, picture objects 1013, audio objects 1014, andthumbnail objects 1016 in FIG. 23, d mean groups of informationclassified by contents (the contents of data). Therefore, All the videoinformation recorded in the audio & video data area 1009 is included inthe video objects 1012; all the still picture information is included inthe picture objects 1013; all the audio and audio information isincluded in the audio objects 1014; and all the thumbnail informationused in managing and retrieving video information is included in thethumbnail objects 1016.

VOB1403 of FIG. 24 shows a block of information recorded in the AV file1401, which is defined differently from the video objects 1012 indicatedby d in FIG. 23. Because similar terms are used to mean totallydifferent things, care should be taken.

The contents of control information 1011 include the following:

· AV data control information 1101: Management information about themanagement of the data structure in video objects 1012 or recordinglocations on the optical disk 1001, an information storage medium.

· Playback control information 1021: Control information necessary forplayback.

· Recording control information (recording (video recording) controlinformation) 1022: Control information necessary for recording (videorecording and audio recording).

· Edit control information 1023: Control information necessary forediting.

· Thumbnail control information 1024: Management information aboutthumbnails (thumbnail objects) for searching for or editing the desiredplace in the video data.

The data structure in AV data control information 1101 indicated by e inFIG. 23 is composed of the following:

· Allocation map table (allocation map table) 1105: Information aboutaddress setting and identification of recorded and unrecorded areasaccording to the actual layout on an information storage medium (opticaldisk 1001).

· Video title set information 1106: Indicates the contents of the entireinformation in AV file 1401 as shown in FIG. 24 and includes informationabout a relation between the individual video objects (VOB), groupinginformation about a plurality of VOBs for management and retrieval, anda time map table.

· Video object control information 1107: Indicates information abouteach of the VOBS in AV file 1401 as shown by c in FIG. 24 and includesattribute (characteristic) information about each VOB and informationabout each VOBU in VOB.

· Program chain control information (PGC control information) 1103:Information about video information playback program (sequence).

· Self-playback information (cell playback information) 1108:Information about the data structure in video information basic units atthe time of playback.

The above is a general view of FIG. 23 up to f and some supplementaryexplanation of each piece of information will be given below.

In the volume and file manager information 1003, the following arerecorded:

· Information about the whole volume.

· The number of files of PC data included and the number of filesrelated to AV data.

· Recording layer information.

As the recording layer information, the following are particularlyrecorded:

· The number of component layers (examples: a RAM/RON two-layer disk iscounted as two layers, a RON two-layer disk is counted as two layers, ann number of single-sided disks are counted as n layers).

· A logical sector number range table allocated to each layer (thecapacity for each layer).

· Characteristic of each layer (examples: DVD-RAM disk, the RAM sectionof RAM/ROM two-layer disk, CD-ROM, and CD-R).

· Logical sector number range table allocated to each zone in the RAMarea for each layer (including information about the capacity of an areawhere rewriting is possible layer by layer).

· ID information unique to each layer (to find disk replacement in amultiple disk pack).

Consecutive logical sector numbers are set even in a multiple disk packor RAM/ROM two-layer disk, thereby enabling the pack or disk to be usedas a large volume space.

In the playback control information 1021, the following are recorded:

· Information about a playback sequence to combining PGCs into one.

· Information indicating spurious recording positions regarding aninformation storage medium as VTR or DVC in connection with the above(the sequence in which all the recorded cells are reproducedconsecutively).

· Information about simultaneous playback of screens with differentpieces of video information.

· Retrieval information (··· information in which a table listing thecorresponding cell ID and the start time in the cell is recorded foreach retrieval category and which enables the user to select a categoryand access the video information directly).

In the record control information 1022, program reservation videorecording information and others are recorded.

In the edit control information 1023, the following are recorded:

· Special editing information about each PGC (··· the corresponding timesetting information and special editing contents are written as EDLinformation).

· File conversion information (··· converts a specific part of the AVfile into a file that enables special editing on the PC, such as an AVIfile, and specifies the place in which the converted file is stored).

In the thumbnail control information 1024, the following is recorded:

· Management information about thumbnail objects 1016 (the place whereeach thumbnail picture is recorded in the audio and video data area1009, specifying information about the VOB or cell related to eachthumbnail image, and information about places in the VOB or cell relatedto each thumbnail picture). (The VOB and cell will be explained indetail in an explanation of FIG. 24.)

All the information recorded in the data area 1004 indicated by b inFIG. 23 is recorded in files. The relationship between the individualdata files is managed by a directory structure as shown in FIG. 25.

Under a root directory 1450, subdirectories 1451 are provided tofacilitate classification according to the contents of a file. In theembodiment of FIG. 25, each data file related to the computer datarecorded in the computer data areas 1008, 1010 indicated by c in FIG. 23is recorded under a computer data storage subdirectory 1457 and theaudio and video data recorded in the audio and video data area 1009 isrecorded under a rewritable video title set (RWV_TS) 1452. When thevideo information recorded in a DVD video disk is copied as shown by ain FIG. 23, it is copied under a video title set (VIDEO_TS) 1455 and anaudio title set (AUDIO_TS) 1456.

The control information 1011 indicated by d in FIG. 23 is recorded asrecording/reproducing video management data in the form of a singlefile. In the embodiment of FIG. 25, the name of the file isRWVIDEO_CONTROL.IFO. The same information is recorded under the filename RWVIDEO_CONTROL.BUP as a backup copy. The RWVIDEO_CONTROL.IFO andRWVIDEO_CONTROL.BUP files are treated as conventional computer files.

In the embodiment of FIG. 25, all the video information data belongingto the video objects 1012 indicated by d in FIG. 23 is recordedcollectively in the video object file 1447 whose file name isRWVIDEO.VOB. Specifically, all the video information data belonging tothe video objects 1012 indicated by d in FIG. 23 is concatenatedcontinuously in a single VTS (video title set 1402) and recordedcontinuously in a single file, the single video object file 1447 (thatis, all the video information data is recorded collectively in a singlefile without dividing a file into PTT (Part_of_Title) 1407, 1408).

Furthermore, All the still picture information data belonging to thepicture objects 1013 is recorded collectively in a picture object file1448 whose file name is RWPICTURE.POB. The picture objects 1013 includepieces of still picture information. A digital camera has employed amethod of recording a single still picture in the form of a differentfile. Differently from the recording method of the digital camera, theembodiment of the present invention is characterized in that all thestill pictures included in the picture objects 1013 are concatenatedcontinuously in the same manner as in FIG. 24 and recorded collectivelyin a single picture object file 1448 whose file name is RWPICTURE.POB.

Similarly, all the audio information belonging to the audio objects 1014is recorded collectively in a single audio object file 1449 whose nameis RWAUDIO.AOB and all the thumbnail information belonging to thethumbnail objects 1016 is recorded collectively in a thumbnail objectfile 1458 whose name is RWTHUMBNIL.TOB.

The video object file 1447, picture object file 1448, audio object file1449, and thumbnail object file 1458 are all treated as AV files 1401.

Although not shown in FIG. 23, recording/reproducing additionalinformation 1454 usable in video-recording or reproducing pictures canbe recorded simultaneously. The information is recorded collectively ina single file, which is given the file name RWADD.DAT.

The data structure of an AV file is shown in FIG. 24. As indicated by bin FIG. 24, the whole AV file 1401 constitutes a single PGS (programset) 1402. The PGS (program set) 1402 is composed of a collection of VOB(video objects) 1403, 1404, 1405 separated in the order in which thepieces of information have been recorded in the contents of the audioand video data or the AV file 1401.

VOB (video objects) 1403, 1404, 1405 indicated by d in FIG. 24 aredefined as a collection of audio and video data recorded in the AV file1401 and differ in definition from the video objects 1012 indicated by din FIG. 23 where classification items, including still pictureinformation/audio information/thumbnail information, are given priority.Therefore, in the VOB (video objects) 1403, 1404, 1405 indicated by d inFIG. 24, not only the information classified as the video objects 1012has been recorded, but also the information classified as the pictureobjects 1013, audio objects 1014, or thumbnail objects 16 as shown inFIG. 23 has been recorded.

On the basis of the contents of the information recorded in each of theVOBS 1403, 1404, 1405, related VOBs are put together into a group andthe individual groups constitute PGs (programs) 1407, 1408. Namely, PGs1407, 1408 are composed of sets of one or more VOBs. In the embodimentindicated by c in FIG. 24, VOB 1408 and VOB 1405 constitute PG (program)1408. PG 1407 is composed of only one VOB.

The smallest basic units of video information are called VOBUs (videoobject units) 1411 to 1414. The data in the VOBs 1403 to 1405 arecomposed of collections of the VOBUs 1411 to 1414. MPEG 1 or MPEG 2 areoften used as video information compression techniques in the videoobjects 1012. In MPEG, video information is divided into groups calledGOPs at intervals of 0.5 second, thereby compressing the videoinformation in GOPs. The video object units 1411 to 1414, videoinformation compression units, are formed so as to have almost the samesize as that of the GOPs in synchronization with the GOPs.

Furthermore, each of the video object units 1411 to 1414 is recorded insuch a manner that it is divided into sectors 1431 to 1437, each sectorcontaining 2048 bytes. In each of the sectors 1431 to 1437, recording isdone in the form of a pack structure. In the respective sectors, the rawvideo information, sub-picture information, audio information, and dummyinformation are recorded in the form of packs, including V_PCK (videopacks) 1421, 1425, 1426, 1426, SP_PCK (sub-picture pack) 1422, A_PCK(audio pack) 1423, and DM_PCK (dummy pack) 1424. Since each pack has a14-byte pack header at its head, the amount of information recorded ineach pack is 2034 bytes.

DM_PCK 1424 has been inserted beforehand for the purpose of, forexample, adding additional recording information after video recording(··· for example, additional recording is put in an audio pack and theresulting pack is replaced with a dummy pack, or memo information isinserted in sub-picture information (a sub-picture pack) and theresulting pack is replaced with a dummy pack).

The recording area of a DVD-RAM, an example of the information storagemedium 1001 indicated by a in FIG. 23 is divided into sectors. In eachsector, 2048 bytes of data can be recorded. In the DVD-RAM disk,recording or reproducing is done in sectors (or in units of 2048 bytes).Therefore, when a DVD-RAM disk is used as an information storage medium(optical disk 1001), each pack is recorded in sectors 1431 to 1437 asindicated by f in FIG. 24.

As indicated by b and d in FIG. 24, a consecutive connection of all theVOBs 1403 to 1405 in the AV file 1401 constitutes a VTS (video titleset) 1402. In the playback sequence written in the playback controlinformation 1021, an arbitrary range in an arbitrary VOB can bespecified and further playback can be performed in an arbitrary playbacksequence. Video information basic units in playback are called cells1441, 1442. 1443. The cells 1441, 1442. 1443 can specify an arbitraryrange in an arbitrary VOB but cannot specify an arbitrary rangeextending over VOBs (that is, cannot set a range by connecting VOBs in asingle cell).

In the embodiment indicated by g in FIG. 24, cell 1441 specifies asingle VOBU 1412 in the VOB 1403, cell 1442 specified an entire VOB1404, and cell 1443 specifies a range only in a specific pack (V_PCK1427) in the VOB 1414.

Information representing a video information playback sequence is set byPGC (program chain) 1446. The playback sequence is written by a singlecell specification or information about a connection of cells. Forexample, in the embodiment indicated by h in FIG. 24, PGC 1446constitutes a playback program in the form of a connection of cell 1441,cell 1442, and cell 1443 (the relationship between cells and PGC will beexplained in detail later).

Using FIGS. 26 and 27, the contents of playback control information 1021will be explained.

PGC (program chain) control information 1103 in the playback controlinformation 1021 has a data structure shown in FIG. 26 and the playbacksequence is determined by PGC and cell. PGC shows a unit in executing aseries of playback in the specified playback sequence of cells. A cellrepresents a playback section where playback data in each VOB isspecified by a start address and an end address as shown by f in FIG.24.

The PGC control information 1103 is composed of PGC informationmanagement information 1052, one or more PGC information search pointer(search pointer of PGC information) 1053, 1054, and pieces of PGCinformation 1055, 1056, 1057.

The PGC information management information 1052 includes informationindicating the number of PGCs (the number of pieces of PGC information).The PGC search pointers point at the head of each pieces of PGCinformation, facilitating search. Each of the pieces of PGC information1055, 1056, 1057 is composed of PGC general information 1061 and one ormore pieces of cell playback information, 1063]. The PGC generalinformation 1061 includes information indicating the playback time ofPGC and the number of cells (the number of pieces of cell playbackinformation).

As shown in FIG. 27, a playback section from Cell-A to Cell-F isspecified in cells of playback data. In each PGC, PGC information hasbeen defined.

(1) PGC #1 shows an example of being composed of cells specifying acontinuous playback section. Its playback sequence is as follows:

Cell-A→Cell-B→Cell-C.

(2) PGC #2 shows an example of being composed of cells specifying anintermittent playback section. Its playback sequence is as follows:

Cell-D→Cell-E→Cell-F.

(3) PGC #3 shows an example of being capable of skipped playback,regardless of the direction of playback or repetitive playback. Itsplayback sequence is as follows:

Cell-A→Cell-D→Cell-B→Cell-E.

Explanation will be given about a method of setting video informationrecording locations in a case where unused areas are set in an AV fileon the video recording/reproducing application software side in theembodiment of the present invention of FIG. 28. First, the state isassumed to be as shown by a in FIG. 28. When the data is deleted partlyfrom D to E in LBN, the file size of the AV file remains unchanged asshown by b in FIG. 28, because AV file #1 has an unused area in theembodiment of the present invention. Consequently, the file entry to theAV file stays at FE(AD(C)). Therefore, even when a new PC file isrecorded, the PC file never gets into the location of the unused area ofAV files #1. Next, when video information is recorded additionally invideo recording, the additional recording information gets into theunused area ranging from D to E in LBN. The unused area turns to anadditional recording area.

With the method of setting unused areas in an AV file according to thepresent invention, there is no need to change the file systeminformation about UDF each time a small amount of data is deleted oradditional recording is done in video recording, which facilitates theprocessing on the file system. When the amount of video information tobe recorded increases, the AV file size becomes larger. The unusedrecording area in the range from B to C in LBN shown by c in FIG. 28 areabsorbed by video file #1. While the video file has only one extentAD(C) indicated by c in FIG. 28, it also has another extent AD(A)indicated by d, resulting in file entry FE(AD(C), AD(B)).

FIG. 29 shows the relationship between LBN and AV addresses in an AVfile in the present invention.

The information in AV file 1401 is recorded on the information storagemedium in such a manner that it is interspersed physically on thestorage medium. Now, consider a case where AV file 1401 is distributedand recorded in extent #α3166, extent #γ3168, and extent #δ3169 and theorder of entry on the file entry is extent #δ3169, extent #γ3168, andextent #α3166 in this order. The AV addresses, the recording/reproducingapplication manages, are such that they connect consecutively theextents registered in the file entry, regardless of the recordingpositions on the information storage medium, and that younger entriesare allocated smaller AV addresses in ascending order.

The AV addresses are managed using the extents. For example, it isassumed that the value of LBN of the first sector is “c” and the valueof LBN of the last sector is “d−1 in extent #γ3168 as indicated by a inFIG. 29.” In this case, the AV address values of similar sectors are“f−e” and “(f−e)+(d−c)−l” respectively as shown by b in FIG. 29.

In the embodiment shown in Table 4, when part of AV file 1401 is deletedin XX, XX-PS, LBN/ODD, and LBN/ODD-PS, then that part turns to “unusedVOB #A 3173” and is managed on the recording/reproducing application asshown in FIGS. 30 and 31 (specifically, no extent is released on thefile system (or deleting is not done)).

FIG. 30 shows a case where the central part of VOB #1 is deleted. FIG.31 shows the management state when VOB has been deleted as shown in FIG.30. Specifically, an example of the number of pieces of VOB information,the number of pieces of unused VOB information, type, data size, and AVaddress for the begin position are shown. As shown in the column on theright side, the contents of management are rewritten. Therefore, in thecase of playback, deleting, and additional writing, address managementis performed by reference to the management information.

Unlike conventional computer information, it is essential for videoinformation to guarantee its continuity in recording as shown in Table 1and Table 2. Hereinafter, the reason for impeding continuity inrecording and a method of guaranteeing continuity in recording will beexplained.

FIG. 32 is a conceptual diagram of a recording route system to helpexplain continuity in recording.

The externally sent video information is stored temporarily in a buffermemory (semiconductor memory) BM219. When the operation of rough access1334 and fine access 1333 causes the optical head 202 to reach therecording position on the information storage medium 201, the videoinformation stored temporarily in the buffer memory (semiconductormemory) BM219 is recorded on the information storage medium by way ofthe optical head 202. The transfer rate of the video information sentfrom the buffer memory (semiconductor memory) BM219 to the optical head202 is defined as physical transmission rate (PTR). The average value ofthe transfer rate of the video information transferred from the outsideworld to the buffer memory (semiconductor memory) BM219 is defined assystem transmission rate (STR) 1388. Generally, the physicaltransmission rate PTR differs in value from the system transmission rateSTR.

Recording video information in different places on the informationstorage medium 201 requires an access operation that moves the positionof the condensed spot of the optical head 202. Rough access 1334 isperformed to move the whole optical head 202 for large movements,whereas fine access 1333 is performed to move only the laser-lightcondensing objective (not shown) for slight movements.

FIGS. 33 and 34 show changes with time in the amount of videoinformation temporarily stored in the buffer memory (semiconductormemory) BM219 in a case where the optical head 202 is caused to writevideo information on specific positions on the information storagemedium, while accessing the video information transferred from theoutside world. Since the physical transmission rate PTR is faster thanthe system transmission rate STR, the amount of video informationtemporarily stored in the buffer memory 219 continues decreasing in theperiods of the video information recording times 1393, 1397, 1398. Theamount of video information temporarily stored in the buffer memory 219reduces to zero. At that time, the video information continuouslytransferred is recorded as it is on the information storage mediumwithout being stored temporarily in the buffer memory 219. Thus, theamount of video information temporarily stored in the buffer memory 219stays at zero.

Thereafter, when video information is recorded in a different positionon the information storage medium, the accessing of the optical head 202is effected before subsequent recording. The access period of theoptical head requires three types of time: rough access times 1348,1376, fine access times 1342, 2343, and rotation wait time of theinformation storage medium 201 1345, 1346. Because no recording is doneon the information storage medium 201 in that period, the physicaltransmission rate PTR 1387 in that period is substantially “0.” Incontrast, because the average system transmission rate STR 1388 of thevideo information sent from the outside world to the buffer memory(semiconductor memory) BM219 is kept unchanged, the amount of videoinformation temporarily stored in the buffer memory (semiconductormemory) BM219 increases steadily.

When the accessing of the optical head 202 has been completed andrecording on the information storage medium 201 is started again (in theperiod of the video information recording time 1345, 1346), the amountof video information temporarily stored in the buffer memory(semiconductor memory) BM219 decrease again. The decrease gradient isdetermined by:

(average system transmission rate STR 1332)−(physical transmission ratePTR 1331).

Thereafter, when the optical head accesses a position near the recordingposition on the information storage medium, only the fine access times1363, 1364, 1365, 1366 and rotation wait times 1367, 1368, 1369, 1370are needed, because the optical head can access the position only byfine access.

The condition for enabling such continuous recording can be determinedby “the upper limit of the number of accesses in a specific period.”Although continuous recording has been explained above, the conditionfor enabling continuous playback is also determined by “the upper limitof the number of accesses in a specific period,” because similar reasonsto what has been described above.

The condition for the number of accesses that makes continuous recordingcompletely impossible will be explained by reference to FIG. 33. Whenthe frequency of access is the highest, the video information recordingtime 1398 is very short as shown in FIG. 33 and only the fine accesstimes 1363, 1364, 1365, 1366 and rotation wait times 1367, 1368, 1369,1370 follow one after another consecutively. In this case, however fastthe physical transmission rate PTR 1387 may be, the continuity ofrecording cannot be secured. If the capacity of the buffer memory 219 isBM, the buffer memory 219 is filled with temporarily stored videoinformation in the period of BM÷STR, which makes it impossible to storenewly transferred video information temporarily in the buffer memory(semiconductor memory) 219. As a result, as much video information ashas not been stored temporarily in the buffer memory (semiconductormemory) 219 cannot be recorded continuously.

As shown in FIG. 34, when the video information recording time isbalanced against the access time and the temporarily stored videoinformation in the buffer memory 219 is, on the whole, kept almostconstant, the continuity of video information recording viewed from anexternal system is secured without any overflow of the temporarilystored video information in the buffer memory 219. Let each rough accesstime be SATi (seek access time of the objective), the average roughaccess time after an n number of accesses be SATa, the video informationrecording time for each access be DWTI (data write time), and theaverage video information recording time required to record videoinformation on the information storage medium after each access obtainedas the average value after an n number of accesses be DWTa. Moreover,let the rotation wait time for each time be MWTi (spindle motor waittime) and the average rotation wait time after an n number of accessesbe MWTa.

The amount of video information data transferred from the outside worldto the buffer memory 219 in all the access periods when an n number ofaccesses were performed is expressed as:

STR×(Σ(SATi+JATi+MWTi))≈STR×n×(SATa+JATa+MWTa)  (1)

When the value and the amount of video information transferred from thebuffer memory 219 to the information storage medium 201 in recordingvideo information expressed as

(PTR−STR)×ΣDWTi≈(PTR−STR)×n·DWTa  (2)

has the following relationship expressed as:

(PTR−STR)×n·DWTa≧STR×n×(SATa+JATa+MWTa)

that is,

(PTR−STR)×DWTa≧STR×(SATa+JATa+MWTa)  (3)

the continuity of video information recording is secured viewed from theexternal system side.

If the average time required for one access is Ta, Ta is expressed as:

Ta=STATa+JATa+MWTa  (4)

Thus, expression (3) is rearranged as:

(PTR−STR)×DWTa≧STR×Ta  (5)

The present invention is characterized in that, restrictions are placedon the lower limit of the data size of continuous recording after oneaccess to decrease the average number of accesses. A data area in whichcontinous recording is done on the information storage medium after oneaccess is defined as “a contiguous data area.”

Expression (5) is rearranged as:

DWTa≧STR×Ta/(PTR−STR)  (6)

Since a contiguous data area size CDAS is determined as follows,

CDAS=DWTa×PTR  (7)

From expression (6) and equation (7), the following expression isobtained:

CDAS≧STR×PTR×Ta/(PTR−STR)  (8)

From expression (8), the lower limit of the contiguous data area sizethat enables continuous recording is determined.

The time required for rough access or fine access differs greatly,depending on the performance of the information recording andreproducing device.

 Suppose SATa≈200 ms  (9)

As described above, calculations are done, provided that MWTa≈18 ms andJATa≈5 ms.

In the case of a 2.6-GB DVD-RAM, TR is:

TR=11.08 Mbps  (10)

When the average transmission rate of MPEG 2 is

STR≈4 Mbps  (11)

substituting the above value into expression (8) gives:

CADS≧1.4 Mbits  (12)

By another estimate, suppose

SATa+JATa+MWTa=1.5 seconds  (13)

Then, from expression (8), the result is:

CADS≧9.4 Mbits  (14)

Since in the recording/reproducing DVD standard, the maximumtransmission rate in MPEG 2 is so determined that it is equal or lessthan

STR=8 Mbps  (15)

substituting the value of equation (15) into expression (8) gives:

CADS≧432 Mbits≈5.4 Mbytes  (16)

In the embodiment of the present invention shown in Table 4, thecontiguous data area boundary position is managed on therecording/reproducing application in LBN/OD, LBN/ODD-PS, XX, and XX-PS.The allocation map table 1105 shown in FIG. 23 (f) is caused to have adata structure as shown in Table 6, thereby managing the boundaryposition information.

Using FIG. 10, the linear replacement and skipping replacement have beenexplained by comparison as a method of replacing a defective areaoccurred on the information storage medium. Here, explanation will focuson a comparison between methods of setting LBN (logical block numbers)in replacing processes.

As described earlier, all the recording area on the information storagemedium is divided into sectors in units of 2048 bytes. All the sectorsare allocated physical sector number (PSN) in advance. The PSNs aremanaged by the information recording and reproducing device as explainedin Table 3.

As indicated by β in FIG. 35, the place where a replacement area 3455 isset is limited to the inside of the spare area 724 in the linearreplacement method, and cannot be set in an arbitrary place. When thereis no defective area on the information storage medium, LBNs areallocated to all the sectors within the user area 723 and no LBN isallocated to the sectors in the spare area 724. When a defective area3451 has occurred in ECC blocks, the setting of LBNs in that place (area3451) is prevented, and the values of the LBNs are set in the sectors inthe replacement area 3455. In the example of β in FIG. 35, “b” is set asPSN of the begin sector in an recording area 3441 and “a” is set as LBN.Similarly, “b+32” is set as PSN of the begin sector of a recording area3442 and “a+32” is set as LBN. When recording data #1, recording data#2, and recording data #3 exist as the data to be recorded on theinformation storage medium as indicated by a in FIG. 35, recording data#1 is recorded in a recording area 3441, and recording data #3 isrecorded in a recording area 3442. When the area sandwiched between therecording areas 3441 and 3442 and PSN of whose begin sector starts at“b+16” is a defective area 3451, no data is recorded there and no LBN isset. Instead, not only recording data #2 is recorded in a replacementarea 3455 PSN of whose begin sector in the spare area 724 starts at “d,”but also LBN starting at the begin sector “a+16” is set.

Since the addresses the file system 2 manages are LBNs as shown in Table3 and LBNs are set avoiding the defective area 3451 in the linearreplacement method, the linear replacement method is characterized inthat the file system 2 is allowed to be unaware of the defective area onthe information storage medium. Conversely, this method has adisadvantage in that the file system 2 side cannot deal with thedefective area 3441 on the information storage medium at all.

In contrast, the skipping replacement method according to the presentinvention is characterized in that LBN is set even for a defective area3452 as indicated by γ in FIG. 35 and therefore the file system 2 sidecan deal with a defective area occurring on the information storagemedium (put the defective area in the management range). In the exampleindicated by γ in FIG. 35, LBN of the begin sector in the defective area3452 is set to “a+16.” The present invention is further characterized inthat a replacement area 3456 for the defective area 3452 can be set inany position in the user area 723. As a result, the replacement area3456 is placed immediately behind the defective area 3452, which enablesrecording data #2 to have been recorded on the defective area 3452 to berecorded in the replacement area 3456.

Since in the linear replacement method indicated by β in FIG. 35, theoptical head has to be moved to the spare area 724 to record recordingdata #2, the access time of the optical head is inevitable. In contrast,in the skipping replacement method, the accessing of the optical head isunnecessary and recording data #2 can be recorded immediately behind thedefective area.

As indicated by γ in FIG. 35, in the skipping replacement method, thespare 724 is not used and is treated as an unrecorded area 3459.

When a recording method as indicated by β in FIG. 35 is used, thephysical movement of the optical head is made frequently as shown inFIG. 36.

Suppose a defective area is encountered when recording is done up to,for example, point D in the figure. In this case, the optical head hasto jump to point B in a spare area for replacement, write the datathere, and then jump to return to point C in the writing area next tothe defective area. In this method, as the number of defective areaincreases, the movement of the optical head becomes more frequent whenthe transfer speed of the input data to be written is fast, the opticalhead could not follow the speed.

In contrast, the points of the embodiment shown in FIG. 35 andcorresponding effects representing the principal characteristics of thepresent invention are described in the following items (A), (B), and(C):

(A) LBN Is Set Even for the Defective Area 3452.

··· Because LBN is not allocated directly to a defective area in thelinear replacement method indicated by β in FIG. 35 and in the defectprocessing method shown in FIG. 10, the file system cannot recognize theexact defective area. When the number of defects occurring on theinformation storage medium is small, it is possible to leave defectmanagement to the information recording and reproducing device 3 asshown by β in FIG. 35 or in FIG. 10. When a large number of defects thatexceed the size of the spare area have occurred, the management ofdefects only by the information recording and reproducing device 3 wouldfail.

In contrast, when LBN is set for the defective area 3452 to enable thefile system 2 side to recognize the place of the defective area 3452,the information recording and reproducing device 3 can cooperate withfile system 2 to process defects, which enables video information to berecorded continuously without failure, even when a large number ofdefects have occurred on the information storage medium.

(B) The Defective Area Occurred in the User Area 723 and Allocated LBNis Allowed to Remain on the LBN Space.

··· When either the linear replacement method indicated by β in FIG. 35or the skipping replacement method is used as an LBN setting method andLBN is set in the spare area 724 (an extended area 743 used forinformation recording), a problem arises when the recorded informationis deleted and new information is recorded (although no problem arisesin initial recording).

Specifically, since all the addresses set on the LBN space areconsecutive when viewed from the file system (the file system 2 isunaware that the LBN set in the spare area 724 has been placed in aposition physically apart from the user area 723), the file system 2tries to record information in the continuous range on the LBN space.Once LBN has been set in the spare area 724, the information recordingand reproducing device 140 has to record information on the informationstorage medium under the control of the file system. As a result, theoptical head has to move to the LBN set place on the spare area 724 andrecord information there, resulting in an increase in the accessfrequency of the optical head and therefore permitting the amount ofvideo information temporarily stored in the semiconductor memory in theinformation recording and reproducing device to be saturated as shown inFIG. 33. As a result, continuous recording might be impossible.

In contrast, when LBN set as indicated by γ in FIG. 35 is always set inthe user area, unnecessary access of the optical head can be limited ina case where another piece of information is recorded in the place whereinformation has been deleted, which enables continuous recording ofvideo information.

(C) The Replacement Area 3456 is Set Immediately Behind the DefectiveArea 3452 Occurred in the User Area 723.

As described above, unlike the linear placement method indicated by β inFIG. 35, the skipping replacement method indicated by γ in FIG. 35enables recording data #2 to be recorded immediately behind a defectivearea, with the result that unnecessary access of the optical head islimited and therefore continuous recording of video information ispossible.

The data structure of the defect management information in the skippingreplacement method will be explained.

As a method of recording the defect management information in this case,the embodiment of the present invention has disclosed the following:

(1) A method of recording and managing the defect management informationas PSN information on the information storage medium as shown in FIG.37, causing the information recording and reproducing device 3 to readthe PSN information and then convert it into LBN information, andthereafter informing the file system 2 side of the LBN information.

(2) A method of recording and managing the defect management informationas LBN information on the information storage medium as shown in FIG. 38and causing the file system side to reproduce information without theintervention of the information recording and reproducing device 3 (inthis case, the file system side directly deals with the process ofrecording the defect management information on the information storagemedium).

In the embodiment of the present invention shown in Table 4, XX, XX-PS,LBN/ODD, LBN/ODD-PS, LBN/XXX, and LBN/XXX-PS use the form of FIG. 37.LBN/UDF, LBN/UDF-PS, and LBN/UDF-CadFix use the form of FIG. 38.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the defect management informationcorresponding to the linear replacement method has been recorded as PSNinformation or secondary defect management information 3413 in the DMAareas 663, 691 in the rewritable data zones 613, 645 in the lead-in area1002 and lead-out area 1005.

The embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that thesecondary defect management information (SDL 3413) corresponding to PCdata and the defect management information (TDL 3414) corresponding toAV data (video data) are recorded in such a manner that the former isdistinguished from the latter.

Specifically, in the present invention, the defect managementinformation corresponding to the skipping replacement method is definedas a tertiary defect list 3414. One replacement process (for example,the setting of the replacement area 3456 for the defective area 2452indicated by γ in FIG. 35) is assigned TDL entry 3427 and TDL entry3428.

A combination of the begin sector 3431 in a defect ECC block, defectarea place information, and the begin position sector number 3432 in thereplacement ECC block in the defect block indicating the replacementplace has been registered in the linear replacement method.

In the skipping replacement method, since it is decided that the placeof the replacement area 3456 should be immediately behind the defectivearea 3452, a combination of the begin sector number (PSN) 3434 in adefective ECC block and the location 3443 in which “FFFFFFh” has beenrecorded as skipping replacement identification information instead ofreplacement area location specification is used as the information inthe TDL entries 3427, 3428. With this recording method, the defectmanagement information compatible with the SDL entries 3422, 3423corresponding to the linear replacement can be recorded on theinformation storage medium.

All the defect management information shown in FIG. 37 is managed on theinformation recording and reproducing device 3 side. TDL 3414information or SDL 3413 information reproduced on the informationrecording and reproducing device 3 side are all recorded in PSN. Asindicated by β) and γ, a one-to-one correspondence between PSN and LBNholds for each of the defect processing methods. Specifically, after“PSN→LSN conversion” is caused using the relationship shown in FIG. 11,“LSN→LBN conversion” is caused using the relationship shown in FIGS. 14and 15 and thereafter the defect management information is reported asLBN information to the file system 2 side.

The defect management of FIG. 37 is managed by the information recordingand reproducing device, whereas the defect management information ofFIG. 38 is managed by the file system 2 side and recorded on theinformation storage medium (optical disk 1001) in LBN information form.

The information is recorded in the main volume descriptor sequence 449managed by UDF in the volume & file manager information 1003. The defectinformation is generically called a sparing table 469. The defectmanagement information corresponding to the linear replacement isrecorded in a secondary defect map 3471 and the defect managementinformation corresponding to the skipping replacement is recorded in atertiary defect map 3472. Either has SD map entries 3482, 3483 and TDmap entries 3487, 3488 for each replacement process. The contents ofinformation written in each map entry are the same as indicated by g inFIG. 37.

FIG. 39 shows comparison between skipping replacement and linearreplacement in the relationship between the defect managementinformation of FIG. 38 and the defect/replacement process recorded onthe information storage medium.

The begin sector number 3493 in a defective ECC block in TDM 3472specifies the defective area 3452 indicated by γ in FIG. 39 (managed inECC blocks units of 16 sectors). Because the replacement area 3456 inwhich the video information for that place is to be recorded is alwaysimmediately behind the defective area 3452, “FFFFh” 3494 has beenwritten as shown by g in FIG. 38.

As shown in Table 7, other embodiments of the present invention thatcauses the file system 2 side to manage management information are asfollows:

(1) A hidden file is created and defect map information is written inthe file.

(2) A long allocation descriptor (explained in FIG. 17) is used in AVfiles and a defect flag is set in Implementation Use 412.

As explained above, although additional setting can be done in thereplacement area 3456 in recording AV information, replacement isimpossible when the spare area 24 has been used up, because thereplacement area for defects in the PC information has been set in thespare area 724 indicated by γ in FIG. 35 beforehand. To solve thisproblem, an embodiment of the present invention indicated by γ in FIG.39 is provided. The present invention is characterized in that, when thespare area 724 indicated by γ in FIG. 35 has become full, areplacement-only file 3501 is set in the user area 723 as indicated by γin FIG. 39 in the embodiment of the present invention to secure anadditional replacement area for a defective area in recording PC files.

FIG. 40 is a flowchart to help explain the procedure for creating thereplacement-only file 3501.

After an information storage medium has been installed on theinformation recording and reproducing device (ST41), the informationrecording and reproducing device checks the DMA areas 663, 691 (d inFIG. 37) on the information storage medium and then checks the sparearea for the empty area size (ST42). If having judged that there is onlya little room left (ST43), the information recording and reproducingdevice issues a GETSPRE file command to the file system 2 and asks it tocreate a replacement-only file 3501 (ST45). In response to this, thefile system side creates a replacement-only file 3501 and add it as ahidden file to the directory of FIG. 25.

The identification information for the replacement-only file 3501 isrecorded as a replacement area setting file flag in a fileidentification descriptor 3364 as shown in a replacement-only file inFIG. 21 or indicated by d in FIG. 60 explained layer. In the case of thereplacement-only file 3501, the bit for the replacement-only file flag3371 is made “1.” This method is determined by the UDF.

As another embodiment of the identification information about thereplacement-only file 3501, a replacement-only file flag 3372 may beprovided in the ICG tag 418 of the file entry 3520 as indicated by f inFIG. 59 explained later. Because the area is managed by the file system2 side, the information recording and reproducing device has to issue aGETSPARE command to the file system 2 and be given setting locationinformation about the replacement-only file 3501 (ST46). In recording PCinformation, the information recording and reproducing device replacesthe defective area using information about the replacement-only file3501 given from the file system 2 and records the result in the SDLindicated by a in FIG. 37.

As for the defect management information recorded in the SDL, the beginsector number 3491 in a defective ECC block in SDM 3471 indicated by gin FIG. 38 specifies the defective area 3451 (ECC block=16 sectors)indicated by β in FIG. 39, and the begin position sector number 3492 ina replacement ECC block in the defective block represents thereplacement area 3455 in the replacement-only file 3501. As seen from βin FIG. 39, the LBN area in the replacement-only file 3501 is used inthe same replacement as linear replacement using the spare area 724.

According to the above embodiment of the present invention, because thereplacement area 3455 can be additionally set in any place in the userarea 23, replacement areas can be increased as the number of defectsoccurred on the information storage medium increases.

As explained in FIGS. 32 to 34, to assure continuous recording of videoinformation, recording and partial deleting have to be done incontiguous data areas. As indicated by a in FIG. 43, when a small amountof video information 3513 is added to the already recorded videoinformation 3511, contiguous data area #3 3507 is secured as indicatedby b in FIG. 43 and the remaining part is managed as an unused area3515. When a small amount of video information 3514 is further added,the information is recorded, starting at the begin position of theunused area 3515.

FIG. 41 is a flowchart to help explain a replacing process using thereplacement area setting file.

FIG. 42 is a flowchart to help explain the procedure for creating areplacement area setting file.

In a method of managing the begin position of the unused area 3516,information representing information length 3517 is used in theembodiments of LBN/ODD, LBN/ODD-PS, LBN/UDF, LBN/UDF-PS, LBN/UDF-CADFix,LBN/XXX, and LBN/XXX-PS in Table 4.

The information length 3517 has been recorded in the file entry 3520 asshown in FIG. 44. The information length 3517 means the size ofinformation actually recorded from the head of the AV file as indicatedby c in FIG. 43.

In FIG. 43, the letter d indicates a representation of an unused(unrecorded) area. Specifically, an used area is represented by “unusedarea size=the size of extent #1+the size of extent #2+the size of extent#3−information length size.”

As seen from this equation, the size of the whole file is expressed bythe information length of a file entry and an extended file entry(unused area extent). This makes it easier to recognize the unused areaextent.

Some embodiments of the present invention require contiguous data areasto be dealt with when part of an AV file is deleted of the embodimentsshown in Table 4, in LBN/UDF and LBN/XXX, the position of the boundarybetween contiguous data areas is not secured when part of an AV file isdeleted as shown in FIG. 45, and the part to be deleted is deletedcompletely.

When video object #B 3532, the part to be deleted, extends over part ofextent #2 (CDA: contiguous data area #β and part of extent #4 (CDA #δ)as shown in FIG. 45, the size of extent #6 3546 and that of extent #73547 become smaller than the contiguous data area allowed minimum valueafter deletion, as indicated by b in FIG. 45.

In contrast, of the embodiments shown in Table 4, in XX, XX-PS, LBN/ODD,and LBN/ODD-PS, the recording/reproducing application 1 manages theboundary between contiguous data areas. Specifically, since informationabout the position of the boundary between contiguous data areas hasbeen recorded in the allocation map table as shown in Table 6, whenvideo object #B 3532 is deleted, the part extending over CDA #β 3536 andCDA #δ 3538 are newly defined as unused VOBs 3552, 2553 on therecording/reproducing application 1 side. As shown in FIGS. 30 and 31,they are registered additionally in the same form as that of information3196 in unused VOB #A in the video object control information. Thisembodiment is shown in FIG. 46.

Of the embodiments listed in Table 4, in LBN/UDF-CDAFix, LBN/UDF-PS, andLBN-XXX-PS, the file system 2 side manages the position of the boundarybetween contiguous data areas. In LBN/UDF-CDAFix, CDA has been dividedbeforehand as shown in FIG. 47 in all the recording area on theinformation storage medium. The contiguous data area boundary positionmanagement information has been recorded in the boot descriptor 447, theboot area in the volume recognition sequence 444 in UDF as shown in FIG.48. Each CDA is managed separately using separate CDA entries and itssize 3557 and begin LBN 3558 have been recorded.

The embodiments LBN/UDF-PS and LBN/xxx-PS do not have such preliminaryinformation and enable CDA areas to be set arbitrarily.

After the recording/reproducing application 1 side specifies the AVaddress for the begin position of video object #B 3532 to be deleted andits data size (see FIG. 47), the file system 2 side makes the partialdelete place extending over CDA #β and CDA #δ unused extents 3548, 3549and registers the unused extents 3548, 3549 in the file entry of an AVfile. As for the identification information for the unused extents 3548,3549, the allocation descriptor 420 in the file entry 3520 for videoinformation (AV file) as shown in FIG. 17 or as indicated by f in FIG.44 is made a long allocation descriptor and an “unused extent flag” isset as an attribute in Implementation Use 3528, 412.

When a DVD-RAM disk is used as an information storage medium, recordingand partial deleting have to be done in units of EEC block 502 as shownin FIG. 7. Thus, the position of the boundary between ECC blocks has tobe managed. In this case, when there is a gap between the position ofthe boundary between delete specified areas and the position of theboundary between EEC blocks, unused extents 3548, 3549 are set infractional places as indicated by b in FIG. 47 and an attributedescription place is provided as indicated by f in FIG. 44 and an“unused extent flag” is set there.

Therefore, although explained again, the real-time file (AV file) iscomposed of a real-time extent (recorded section) and an unused extent(empty extent). Information (management information) about the positionof the recorded section and that of the unused extent are written in anallocation descriptor. The allocation descriptor manages AV files andunused area extents (extents set as unrecorded, although nothing hasactually been recorded therein). As shown in FIG. 44 or by f in FIG. 83,this level of hierarchy includes information about the size of extentsand the type of extents (recorded or unrecorded). This makes it easierto cope with various types of files, search for recorded area andunrecorded area, and calculate the capacity. The extent managementinformation is written in the form explained in, for example, FIGS. 18Aand 18B.

Whether recorded files are AV files can be determined by theidentification information about file type written in the ICB(information control block) tag as described earlier.

As for the recorded area extent and the unused area extent in the AVfile, the length of the allocation space is an integral multiple of anECC block and the first logical sector number in the allocation spacecorresponds to an integral multiple of an ECC block.

To secure the CDA boundary position and the ECC block boundary position,the method of setting unused areas in additional recording/partialdeleting has been explained by reference to FIGS. 43, 44, 45, 46, and47.

Table 8 lists embodiments other than those described above. Anembodiment indicated by circled 6 in Table 8 records unused area startLBN in Implementation Use, which differs a little from the embodiment ofFIG. 44 which sets the “unused extent flag” in the same place.

Of the embodiments in Table 4, the difference between the extent settingmethod after video information recording in LBN/UDF and that in LBN/XXXwill be explained by reference to FIG. 49 and FIGS. 50A and 50B. In bothof LBN/UDF and LBN/XXX, the defect management information is recorded onthe information storage medium when a defective area on the informationstorage medium has been found during video information recording. InLBN/UDF, the defect management information is recorded in TDM (TDM 3472indicated by e in FIG. 38) managed by the file system 2. In LBN/UDF,since defects are managed on the file system 2, extent #4 3574 includingdefective area 3566 can be set (as indicted by e in FIG. 49). InLBN/XXX, the defect management information is recorded in TDL (TDL 3414indicated by e in FIG. 37) managed by the information recording andreproducing device 3 and extents are set, avoiding the defective area3566 (see FIG. 50A).

FIG. 50B shows another embodiment of FIG. 50A.

A method of managing the defective area 3566 shown in FIG. 50B uses themethod written in the column marked with circled 2 in Table 7.Specifically, apart from extent #1 3571, extent # 2 3572, and extent #33573 in which video information has been recorded, a defect extent 3595is also set in the defective area 3566 and information on the defectextent is registered in the file entry of the AV file.

A method of writing the extent information in that case uses a longallocation descriptor. For the defect extent 3595, a “defect flag” isprovided in Implementation Use 3528 (see FIG. 44) and the flag is set to“1.”

Consider a case where an extent is set, avoiding the defective area 3566as shown in FIG. 50A. After AV information has been recorded in the formshown in FIG. 49 or indicated by e in FIG. 50A, the following are done:

(1) After the completion of AV information recording, another PC file isrecorded in the LBN place corresponding to the defective area 3566 (inthis case, linear replacement is performed).

(2) To delete the AV file previously recorded, contiguous data area #Bshown in FIG. 49 or indicated by a in FIG. 50A is deleted.

(3) The process of recording another AV information in the place ofcontiguous data area #B just deleted might take place. In this case, onthe LBN space, a PC file has been already recorded in the LBN placecorresponding to the defective area 3566.

The embodiment LBN/XXX of the present invention is characterized in thata contiguous data area 3593 can be set in such a manner that it extendsover an existing PC file 3582 as shown in FIG. 51. A concrete settingmethod will be explained later in detail in FIG. 56.

(a) The total number Npc of the existing PC files 3582 that can exist inthe contiguous data area 3593 or defect area subjected linearreplacement has to satisfy equation (28) as shown on page 175.

(b) The total defect size Lskip requiring skipping replacement in thecontiguous data area including the defective area 3586 subjected toskipping replacement has to satisfy equation (29) as shown on page 176.

(c) When the optical head accesses the recording area next to thecontiguous data area, avoiding the existing PC file 3582 that can bepresent in the contiguous data area 3593 or the defective area 3586subjected to replacement, rough access times 2348, 1376 have to be madeunnecessary.

··· The size of the existing PC file 3582 or the defective area 3586subjected to replacement is set so small that rough access is not neededduring the accessing of the optical head.

When AV information is recorded in the contiguous data area 3593, AVinformation about the following is not recorded on the informationstorage medium at all:

(1) The time required for the optical head to access the next recordingarea, avoiding the existing PC file 3582 that can be present in thecontiguous data area 3593 or the defective area 3586 subjected toreplacement.

(2) The period of time in which the skipping process is performed on adefective area 3587 subjected to skipping replacement in the precedingrecording and the defective area newly found in the present recording.

Therefore, in the period of time, the amount of video informationtemporarily stored in the semiconductor memory in the informationrecording and reproducing device increases steadily as in the period ofrough access time 1348, fine access time 1343, or rotation wait time1346. Therefore, this period can be treated in the same manner as roughaccess time 1348, fine access time 1343, and rotation wait time 1346.The total size of the defective area 3587 subjected to skippingreplacement in the preceding recording and the defective area newlyfound in the present recording and needing the skipping process isdefined as Lskip.

The total time Tskip required for the optical head to pass through Lskipis:

Tskip=Lskip÷PTR  (21)

Taking this condition into account, expression (8) is rearranged as:

CDAS≧STR×PTR×(Ta+Tskip)/(PTR−STR)  (22)

When the optical head accesses the next recording area, avoiding theexisting PC file 3582 that can be present in the contiguous data area3593 or the defective area 3586 subjected to replacement, it accessesthe next recording area by track jumping. At this time, the size of theexisting PC file 3582 and that of the defective area 3586 subjected tolinear replacement are made smaller to the extent that rough accesstimes 1348, 1376 are unnecessary.

In a general DVD-RAM drive, the moving distance of the objective in fineaccess is about ±200 μm. The track pitch (Pt) of the DVD-RAM disk is:

Pt=0.74 μm  (23)

The minimum data size (Dt) per track is:

Dt=17×2 kilobytes=34 kilobytes  (24)

From these, the size of each of the existing PC file 3582 and thedefective area 3586 subjected to linear replacement has to be equal toor less than the following:

200÷0.74×34=9190 kilobytes  (25)

Taking various margins into account, it is desirable that the actualallowed maximum size should be equal or less than ¼ of the value ofequation (25), or 2300 kilobytes. When the above condition is satisfied,only the fine access time 1343 and rotation wait time 1346 have only tobe taken into account in accessing the next recording area in thecontiguous data area. If the fine access time required for one access isJATa, the rotation wait time 1346 is MWTa, and the total number of theexisting PC files 3582 in the contiguous data area and the defectiveareas subjected to linear replacement is Npc, the total access time Tpcrequired to avoid the above areas is expressed as:

Tpc=Npc×(JATa+MWTa)  (26)

Taking this time into account, expression (22) is rearranged as:

CDAS≧STR×PTR×(Ta+Tskip+Tpc)/(PTR−STR)  (27)

Using the respective values of equations (10), (13), and (15) gives thefollowing results, depending on the value of (Tskip+Tpc)/Ta:

When (Tskip+Tpc)/Ta=20%, this gives CDAS≧6.5 megabytes.

When (Tskip+Tpc)/Ta=10%, this gives CDAS≧5.9 megabytes.

When (Tskip+Tpc)/Ta=5%, this gives CDAS≧5.7 megabytes.

When (Tskip+Tpc)/Ta=3%, this gives CDAS≧5.6 megabytes.

When (Tskip+Tpc)/Ta=1%, this gives CDAS≧5.5 megabytes.

From expression (27) and equation (26), the following is derived:

Npc≦{[CDAS×(PTR−STR)/(STR×PTR)]−Ta−Tskip}/(JATa+MWTa)  (28)

From expression (27) and equation (21), the following is derived:

Lskip≦{[CDAS×(PTR−STR)/(STR×PTR)]−Ta−Tpc}×PTR  (29)

Using expression (28), the values of equations (10), (13), and (15), andMWTa≈18 ms, and JATa≈5 ms gives the following results, depending on thevalue of (Tskip+Tpc)/Ta and the value of Tskip:

When (Tskip+Tpc)/Ta=10% and Tskip=0, this gives Npc≦6.

When (Tskip+Tpc)/Ta=5% and Tskip=0, this gives Npc≦3.

When (Tskip+Tpc)/Ta=3% and Tskip=0, this gives Npc≦1.

When (Tskip+Tpc)/Ta=1% and Tskip=0, this gives Npc≦0.

Using expression (29), the values of equations (10), (13), and (15)gives the following results, depending on the value of (Tskip+Tskip)/Taand the value of Tpc:

When (Tskip+Tskip)/Ta=10% and Tpc=0, this gives Lskip≦208 kilobytes.

When (Tskip+Tskip)/Ta=5% and Tpc=0, this gives Lskip≦104 kilobytes.

When (Tskip+Tskip)/Ta=3% and Tpc=0, this gives Lskip≦62 kilobytes.

When (Tskip+Tskip)/Ta=1% and Tpc=0, this gives Lskip≦0 kilobytes.

FIG. 32 is a conceptual diagram of a recording route system to helpexplain continuity in recording.

In the above explanation, the conceptual diagram of the AV informationrecording route system of FIG. 32 has been used. As long as the basicconcept is examined, there is no problem in using FIG. 32. For moredetailed examination, a conceptual model for the recording route systemshown in FIG. 52 will be used.

When recording is done with the PC system shown in FIG. 1, the AVinformation inputted from the outside world is converted by the MPEGboard 134 into a digital compressed signal, which is temporarilyrecorded in the main memory 112. Under the control of the main CPU 111,the compressed signal is transferred to the information recording andreproducing device 140 side of FIG. 1. The information recording andreproducing device 140 also have the buffer memory 219 in it and storesthe transferred digital AV information temporarily in the buffer memory219.

A concrete flow of information will be explained by reference to FIGS.53A to 53C. In a conventional method, the video information 3301 storedin the main memory 112 on the PC side shown in FIG. 52 is transferredtogether with a write command to the information recording andreproducing device 140 side. The write command in the conventionalmethod specifies LBN indicating the start position of recording and thesize of the data to be transferred. After the transferred videoinformation is stored temporarily in an empty area 3311 (FIG. 53A) towhich no data has been transferred yet in the memory 219 of theinformation recording and reproducing device, it is recorded in arecording place 3327 by the first write command on the informationstorage medium as shown in FIG. 53B. By the next command, the videoinformation is stored temporarily in an area for video information 3315to be recorded on the information storage medium in the memory 219 ofthe information recording and reproducing device, and then the videodata starts to be recorded in an unrecorded area 3324 on the informationstorage medium. When a defective area 3330 has occurred in the middle ofrecording as shown in FIG. 53C, part of the video information 3315 to berecorded does not fit in a specific range (the range of the unrecordedarea 3324) on the information storage medium as a result of skippingreplacement and overflow information 3321 occurs. At the same time, theinformation recording and reproducing device interrupts the recordingprocess.

As described above, with the conventional command that gives LBNindicating the recording start position and the transfer informationsize, use of the skipping replacement algorithm interrupts the recordingprocess.

Following is an explanation of a method of the present invention whichenables AV information to be recorded continuously for a long timewithout interruption, even when a large number of defect have occurredon the information storage medium.

A method of recording AV information according to the present inventionis characterized by comprising the following steps as shown in FIG. 54:

* The step of judging whether the file to be recorded is an AV file(ST01).

* The step of setting the video information recording place on theinformation storage medium in advance (ST02).

*The step of recording AV information on the information storage medium(ST03).

*The step of recording the information layout information actuallyrecorded on the information storage medium in the management area on theinformation storage medium (ST04).

These steps are mainly controlled by the file system 2.

FIG. 55 shows the contents of step ST01 of FIG. 54 in further detail.FIG. 56 shows the contents of step ST02 of FIG. 54 in further detail.FIG. 57 shows the contents of step ST03 of FIG. 54 in further detail.FIG. 58 shows the contents of step ST04 of FIG. 54 in further detail.

All processes on the information storage medium, including the recordingof information, the playback of information, and the partial deleting ofthe information in an AV file, are started only after therecording/reproducing application 1 in Table 3 has told the file system2 in the OS an outline of the process.

The recording/reproducing application 1 side informs the file system 2of the outline of the process by issuing a SDK API command 4. Receivingthe SDK API command 4, the file system 2 side interprets the contents ofthe instructions concretely and issues a DDK interface command 5 to theinformation recording and reproducing device 3, thereby executing aconcrete process.

Table 9 lists the API commands (SDK API command 4) necessary to executethe processes shown in FIG. 54 in the embodiments of the presentinvention LBN/UDF and LBN/XXX.

A new matter added and a new command in COMMAND TYPE 3405 in Table 9 arein the scope of the present invention. A series of processes carried outon the recording/reproducing application 1 using the API commands willbe explained below.

<AV Information Recording Process>

1^(st) STEP: Issue a file create command to inform the OS side of thestart of recording and the attribute of the target file (whether thefile is an AV file or a PC file).

2^(nd) STEP: Issue a set unrecorded area command to specify an estimatedmaximum size of AV information to be recorded on the information storagemedium.

3^(rd) STEP: Issue a write file command (to OS several times) to informthe OS/file system side of AV information transfer. 4^(th) STEP: Issue aset unrecorded area command when the size of AV information to berecorded in the future is known after the series of AV informationrecording processes has been completed, in order to secure in advancethe area in which the AV information is to be recorded next time.

In the information storage medium of the present invention, both AVinformation and PC information can be recorded on the same informationstorage medium. Thus, there may be a case where PC information isrecorded in the empty area before the subsequent AV information isrecorded, with the result that the empty area has run short when thesubsequent AV information is recorded.

To avoid this, an unused area of a large size is set in an AV file andthe subsequent AV information recording place is reserved in advance(the 4^(th) STEP may not be executed).

5^(th) STEP: Issue a close handle command to inform the OS/file systemside of the end of the series of recording processes.

* The conventional PC information recording commands are also used asthe write file command and close handle command, except that an AV fileattribute flag is added to the file create command. Such setting makesit unnecessary to change the program as a result of changing the videoinformation recording method in a higher layer closer to the APIinterface in the multilayer OS. This enables the existing OS software tobe used as it is in the higher layer. On the file system side belongingto a lower-layer part of the OS close to the information recording andreproducing device, only the file system side judges whether the file tobe dealt with by the method of FIG. 55 is an AV file or a PC file andselects a command to be used for the information recording andreproducing device.

* All addresses for recording places are set in AV addresses.

<AV/PC Information Playback Process>

1^(st) STEP: Issue a file create command to inform the OS side of thestart of playback.

2^(nd) STEP: Issue a read file command (to OS several times) to specifya series of playback processes.

3^(rd) STEP: Issue a close handle command to inform the OS/file systemside of the end of the series of playback processes.

* In playback, common processes are performed on both AV files and PCfiles.

* All addresses for playback places are set in AV addresses.

<Partial Deleting Process of AV Files>

1^(st) STEP: Issue a file create command to inform the OS side of thename of the file to be deleted partly. 2^(nd) STEP: Issue a file partialdelete command to specify the deleting of the specified range.

··· In the file partial delete command, the AV address at which deletingto be started and the size of the data to be deleted are specified inparameters. 3^(rd) STEP: Issue a close handle command to inform theOS/file system side of the end of the series of playback processes.

<Inquiring About the Size of an Unrecorded Area in which AV Informationcan be Recorded on the Information Storage Medium>

1^(st) STEP: Issue a get AV free space size command to inquire about thesize of an unrecorded area in which AV information can be recorded.

* Just issuing the get AV free space size command to the OS side enablesthe size of the unrecorded area to be obtained from the OS side.

<Defragmentation Process>

1^(st) STEP: Issue an AV Defragmentation command to instruct the OS sideto execute an AV file Defragmentation process.

* The AV Defragmentation command alone can carry out the AV fileDefragmentation process.

* In a concrete method of processing the AV Defragrnentation command,small pieces of file information of the extent size interspersed on theinformation storage medium are moved extent by extent and the contiguousdata area securing space in the unrecorded area is widened.

Table 10 shows a list of the DDK interface commands 5 issued by the filesystem 2 to the information recording and reproducing device 3 sideafter having interpreted the SDKAPI command concretely.

The commands excluding the READ command are either new commands providedin the present invention or the existing commands partially modified.

The information recording and reproducing device is connected to, forexample, the IEEE 1394 and performs information transfer with aplurality of devices simultaneously. In explanation of Table 3 or FIG.1, the information recording and reproducing device 3 or 140 isconnected only to the single main CPU 111. In contrast, when theinformation recording and reproducing device is connected to the IEEE1394 or the like, it is connected to the main CPU of each device. Toprevent information from being transferred to the wrong device, S10T_ID,identification information for each device, is used. The S10T_ID isissued on the information recording and reproducing device 3 or 140side. A GET FREE SLOT_ID command is issued on the file system 2 side andnot only declares the start and end of AV information using an AV writestart flag and an AV write end flag as parameters but also instructs theinformation recording and reproducing device to issue S10T_ID at thetime of declaring the start of AV information.

The recording start position in the AV write command is setautomatically as the current position (the subsequent AV information isrecorded from the LBN position at which recording has been completed bythe preceding AV write command). An AV write number is set in each AVwrite command. Using the AV write number, a DISCARD PRECEDING command(see Table 10) makes it possible to cancel the issue of the alreadyissued AV write command recorded in the buffer memory 219 as a commandcache of the information recording and reproducing device.

As shown in FIG. 61, there is a GET WRTE STATUS command that enables thefile system 2 side to perform a suitable process before the amount of AVinformation temporarily stored in the buffer memory 219 of theinformation recording and reproducing device. The amount of room in thebuffer memory 219 is reported as the return value 3344 of the GET WRITESTATUS command, which enables the file system 2 side to grasp the statusof buffer memory 219.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the GET WRITE STATUS commandis inserted each time as much AV information as equals records in asingle contiguous data area is issued in an AV write command, whichcauses the check target size and check start LBN, the command parameters3343 in the GET WRITE STATUS command, to match with the targetcontiguous data area. Because the defective area found in the targetrange is given as the begin LBN of each ECC block using the return value3344, this information is used in setting an extent (ST4-04) after AVinformation has been recorded.

A SEND PRESENT EXTENT ALLOCATION MAP command is a command to inform theinformation recording and reproducing device of all the scheduledrecording places as LBN information before AV information is recorded.The command has the number of extents in the scheduled recording places,the begin posit ion (LBN) for each extent, and the size of each extentas command parameters. The scheduled recording places on the informationstorage medium are set on the basis of the zone boundary positioninformation and the DMA information after LBN conversion, the returnvalue of the GET PERFORMANCE issued beforehand.

Hereinafter, the processing method in each step shown in FIG. 54 will beexplained in further detail.

As for identification information about AV files, an AV fileidentification flag 3362, or an identification flag for what is called areal-time recording file, is set in a flags field in ICB tag 3361 in theICB tag 418 of a file entry 3520 as shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B orindicated by f in FIG. 59. Setting the flag to “1” makes it possible tojudge whether the file is an AV file.

In another embodiment of the present invention, an AV fileidentification flag 3364 may be set in the file identificationdescriptor 3364 as indicated by d in FIG. 60.

FIG. 55 is a concrete flowchart for the step of judging whether the fileis an AV file shown in ST01 in FIG. 54.

Only when the recording/reproducing application 2 side issues a createfile command, processing is started (ST1-01). The method ofdistinguishing an AV file varies depending on the condition (ST1-02) asfollows:

* When a new AV file is created, the AV file is distinguished using theAV file attribute flag in the create file command (ST 1-03).

* When AV information is added to the existing AV file, the AV file isdistinguished using the attribute flag for the file already recorded onthe information storage medium as shown in FIG. 59 or 60 (ST1-04).

Use of the method produces the effect of making it unnecessary to managethe attribute of each file (whether the file is an AV file or a PC file)on the application program 1 side (or of making ajudgment on the filesystem 2 side automatically and switching the recording method)(ST1-05).

With such a method, when the file is a PC file, the conventional writecommand and linear replacement algorithm are executed. When the file isan AV file, the AV write command and skipping replacement algorithm areexecuted.

After having issued the file create command, the recording/reproducingapplication 1 side sets an estimated maximum value of the AV informationscheduled recording size and issues a set unrecorded area command. Onthe basis of the distribution of defects obtained from the specificationinformation and GET PERFORMANCE command and the zone boundary positioninformation, the contiguous data area is set so as to suit the maximuminformation size to be recorded (ST02, and ST2-05, ST2-06, and ST2-07 inFIG. 56). Of course, before that, the size of an AV file unused area tobe recorded on the information storage medium is recognized, informationon the defective distribution is acquired, and information on the zoneboundary position is acquired (ST2-01 to ST2-04).

When the embodiment of LBN/XXX in Table 4 is used, equation (25) andexpression (27) are used as the setting condition.

On the basis of the result, information about the allocation descriptorin the file entry for the relevant AV file is recorded in advance(ST2-07). Executing this step produces the following effects: Executingthis step produces the following effects:

(a) For example, when the information recording and reproducing deviceis connected to the IEEE 1394 or the like and records data with aplurality of devices simultaneously, it can prevent other informationfrom being written in the position in which data is to be recorded.

(b) Even when the recording of AV information is interrupted in thecourse of continuous recording due to power failure, the informationimmediately before the interruption can be saved by tracing thescheduled recording positions in sequence after restart.

Thereafter, a send preset extent allocation map command is issued toinform the information recording and reproducing device side of thescheduled recording position information (ST2-08). Because theinformation recording and reproducing device is well aware of therecording positions on the information storage medium and the recordingsequence by the advance notice, it can assure continuous recordingwithout stopping the recording process, even when the skippingreplacement algorithm is executed frequently due to defects on theinformation storage medium in recording AV information.

The details of the AV information continuous recording step shown instep ST03 of FIG. 54 will be explained by reference to FIG. 57.

Using information about information length 3517 shown in equationindicated by d in FIG. 43, the recording start position in the AV fileis checked in advance (ST03-01). When the recording/reproducingapplication 1 issues a write file command (ST3-02); a GET FREE SLOT_IDcommand with an AV write start flag is issued to cause the informationrecording and reproducing device to issue SLOT_ID (ST3-03).

FIG. 61 pictorially shows the continuous recording method in ST3-04 andlater. The pieces of video information #1, #2, and #3 stored in the mainmemory by the AV write command are transferred to the buffer memory 219in the information recording and reproducing device periodically. Thevideo information accumulated in the buffer memory 219 in theinformation recording and reproducing device is recorded on theinformation storage medium via the optical head 202. When a defectivearea 3351 has occurred on the information storage medium 201, theskipping replacement algorithm is executed. In the meantime, the videoinformation is not recorded on the information storage medium 201, withthe result that the amount of video information temporarily stored inthe buffer memory 219 in the information recording and reproducingdevice increases. The file system 2 side issues a GET WRITE STATUScommand at regular intervals of time and monitors the amount of videoinformation temporarily stored in the buffer memory 219. When the amountof video information temporarily stored is going to be saturated, thefile system side executes one of the following:

(1) Issue a DISCARD PRECEDING COMMAND command to delete part of thecommand cache in the information recording and reproducing device.

(2) Issue the next AV write command to limit (or decrease) the amount ofvideo information to be transferred to the information recording andreproducing device.

(3) Delay the time at which the next AV write command is issued to theinformation recording and reproducing device and wait until the amountof video information temporarily stored in the buffer memory 219 in theinformation recording and reproducing device becomes smaller.

The above contents will be explained using concrete examples shown inFIGS. 62 to 69. The transition of recording information in three stagesis shown in FIGS. 62 to 69. The first stage corresponds to the memory onthe PC side, the second stage corresponds to the memory in theinformation recording and reproducing device, and the third stepcorresponds to the recording position on the information storage medium.

A SENT PRESET extent allocation map command preceded by circled 1 inFIG. 62 is issued according to step ST2-08 in FIG. 56. As shown in Table10, since in this command, the extent begin position information andextent size information are set as command parameters, “a” and “d” and“g” ···, the begin position LBN for extent=CDA, and “c−a” and “f−d” ···,extent=CDA size, are added. Moreover, AV write commands preceded bycircled 2 and circled 3 are issued so as to record video information inCDA #1 in two separate actions.

Next, to grasp the recorded state of CDA #1, a GET WRITE STATUS commandpreceded by circled 4 is issued.

To specify CDA #1 as a check target by the GET WRITE STATUS command, “a”is set as the begin LBN for the check target range, the set value of aparameter, and “c−a” is set as the check target range. Similarly, AVwrite commands preceded by circled 5 and circled 6 are issued so as torecord video information in CDA #2 in two separate actions. Then, tograsp the recorded state of CDA #2, a GET WRITE STATUS command precededby circled 7 is issued.

The command is sent to the information recording and reproducing deviceat a time and command cache is performed (ST3-05 in FIG. 57).

When there is no defect in the unused place 3371 on the informationstorage medium shown in FIG. 63, recording information a 3361 isrecorded on the information storage medium as shown in FIG. 64. Next,when a defective area 3375 has occurred as shown in FIG. 65, theskipping replacement algorithm is executed. Part of the videoinformation scheduled to be recorded in CDA #1 overflows. However, sincethe second present extent allocation map command has informed theinformation recording and reproducing device 3 side of the location inwhich information is to be recorded next, the overflowed information isstored in the location 3371, shift information β 3. Information aboutthe defective area 3375 is reported as the return value 3344 of GETWRITE STATUS command preceded by circled 4 to the file system 2 side(see ST3-05 in FIG. 57, and FIGS. 62 and 66). The file system 2 judgeswhether the buffer memory 219 in the information recording andreproducing device (ODD) 3 is going to overflow (ST3-06 in FIG. 57).Then, in a concrete method shown in ST3-07 in FIG. 57, a DISCARDPRECEDING COMMAND command (indicated by circled 9 in FIG. 66) is used tocancel the AV write command (circled 8 in FIG. 62), a write commandabout the video information to be recorded in CDA #3 and then an AVwrite command (circled 10 in FIG. 66) is used to issue a command tolimit (or decrease) the amount of video information to be transferred.

Because the feedback to CDA #2 is not in time, recording is done on theinformation storage medium as scheduled at the beginning as shown inFIG. 67.

As shown in FIG. 68, the recording start position in the AV writecommand used here is not the current position. It is assumed that thefile system 2 side specifies the recording start position. In this case,too, the recording start position in which recording is actually done isallowed to deviated substantially from the recording start positionspecified by the file system 2 side on the basis of the defective areafound in recording the preceding video information.

After the series of recording processes has been completed, a CloseHandle command issued from the recording/reproducing application causesthe file system 2 to issue a GET FREE SLOT_ID command with an AV writeend flag to the information recording and reproducing device 3 side.Receiving the command, the information recording and reproducing device3 adds the defective information found in the series of recordingprocesses to TDL3414 in FIG. 37.

As the postprocess in recording the video information, the size of theunused area left in the AV files is determined on the basis of the SETUnrecorded area command information (ST4-03 in FIG. 58) specified by therecording/reproducing application 1 side. Then, the rewriting ofinformation length 3517 (ST4-05), the rewriting of the final extentinformation (ST4-04), and the rewriting of setting information about UDFare effected.

Next, the procedure for allocating extents in recording real-time fileswill be explained.

The extent allocation procedure is designed to prevent underflow fromoccurring the buffer during playback.

When the symbols below are defined, the procedures for extents can beexplained using the symbols:

Ai: Preallocation area (area physically connected by ECC and searchedfor before recording).

Ei: Unused extent (empty extent).

RTi: Real-time extent.

T_(RI): Ai read time.

T_(m,n): Access time from the end of area Am to the start position ofarea An.

T_(k): the maximum time of one revolution period.

t2_(i−2): Start time of reading from area Ai.

t2_(i−1),: End time of reading from area Ai.

B(t): The amount of data in the buffer memory at time t.

B_(max): Buffer memory size.

B_(F): The minimum amount of data in the buffer memory to set apreallocation area to be registered as an unused extent.

p: The maximum number of preallocation areas already registered asunused extents.

Step 1 ··· Search of unallocated areas.

Unallocated areas (unused areas) physically connected are searched forby reference to the space bit map descriptor. At this time, the physicalallocation data indicating the zone boundary and defective ECCblocks/sectors is also referred to. The unallocated area whose startlogical number and length are an integral multiple of 16 logical sectorsis regarded as preallocated area.

Even if some preallocated areas have not been used in recordingreal-time data, unallocated areas are searched for, provided that thetotal size of unallocated areas is large enough for the preset size ofrecording data. The space bit map descriptor is updated to reserve allthe preallocated areas.

Step 2 ··· Calculate the read time and access time.

Using data rate V_(in), the read time T_(Ri) for each preallocated areaAi is calculated. The access time Ti,I+1 based on access operation iscalculated.

Step 3 ··· Calculate the amount of data B(t) at the end of readoperation.

The amount of data B(t) is calculated at the last time when the data isread from area Ai. B(t_(2i−1))=B(t_(2i−2))+(vin−Vout)×T_(Ri).

After the data has been read from area Ai, the overflowing state of thebuffer memory is checked.

If the amount of data B(t_(2i−1)) has exceeded the size Bmax of thebuffer memory, B(t²¹⁻¹) is corrected to be B(t_(2i−1))−k×Tk (k is apositive integer). This is a value smaller than Bmax.

Next, the total size of preallocated areas is checked. If the total sizeof preallocated areas Aj (from j=1 to 0) has exceeded the predeterminedsize (=Vout×recording time) of recording data, the preallocated areas Aj(from j=P+1 to i) are registered as unused extents Ej (from j=p+1 to i).Then, control proceeds to step 5 explained later.

Next, the amount of data B(t) at the end of the read time for area Ai ischecked. If the amount of data B(t²¹⁻¹) has exceeded the minimum amountof data B_(F) (=Vout×T_(L)), the preallocated areas Aj (from j=P+1 to i)are registered as unused extents Ej (from j=p+1 to i), which arenumbered from p to i.

Step 4 ··· Calculate the amount of data B(t) at the start of readoperation.

The amount of data B(t) at the start of reading data from area Ai+1 iscalculated. B(t_(2i))=B(t_(2i−1))−(Vout×T_(i,i+1))

Next, after the data has been read, the buffer memory is checked forunderflow. If the amount of data B(t_(2i)) is less than 0, the followingsubroutine will operate.

Aj (from j=p+1 to i+1) is searched for the most effective preallocatedarea Ak. The purpose for this is to reduce the amount of data in thebuffer memory. Aj is searched for, while comparison is being made asseen in value (B(t_(2j−3))−B(t_(2j−1)) where j=p+1 to i+1).

From preallocated areas Ai+1, Ai* (i=k, k+1, k+2, ···) are specifiedagain. On the accessing process, access time T_(k−1, k+1) is calculatedand set as T_(k−1, k)*.

From access time T_(i−2,i+2), T_(i, i+l) is specified again. From readtimes TRi+1, TRi* (i=k, k+2, k+2, ···) are specified again. Then, i isset to p and control goes to step 4, otherwise i is incremented by +1and control goes to step 3.

Step 5 ···Record real-time data.

In this step, real-time data (AV data) is recorded in the unused extentregistered in step 3. When the recording is ended in the middle of thepreallocated area, the preallocated area is divided into a real-timeextent, an unused extent, an unrecorded area. This is because data isrecorded in ECC block units at a variable data rate.

Step 6 ··· Record the file structure.

In this step, an information control block (ICB) is created. In theblock, a real-time extent (recorded section) and unused (empty) extentare shown. To release the preallocated area not used for a real-timefile, the space bit map is updated.

The management information about the unused extent and that about theinformation length, and further the setting of the unused extent are thesame as explained earlier.

The procedure for reproducing the video information in an AV file byreference to FIG. 70 shows the following:

* The recording/reproducing application 1 uses AV addresses as addressinformation to be managed and further uses AV addresses to set addressesin SDKAPI command 4 issued to the file system 2.

* The file system 2 uses LBN (or LSN depending on the situation) asaddress information to be managed and further uses LBN to set addressesin DDK Interface command 5 issued to the information recording andreproducing device 3.

* The information recording and reproducing device 3 manages addressesusing PSN.

Therefore, when the recording/reproducing application 1 determines theplace to be reproduced and issues a read file command, then the filesystem 2 performs “AV address→LBN conversion” (ST06 in FIG. 70) and theinformation recording and reproducing device 3 performs “LBN→PSNconversion” (ST07).

In the method of deleting part of an AV file, the AV informationrecorded on the information storage medium is not processed at all asshown in FIG. 71 and only two things are performed: the file entryinformation on the file system 2 is rewritten (ST09 in FIG. 71) andinformation about UDF is changed.

Then, to register the partly deleted place as an unrecorded area, thepartly deleted place is added to the information in the unallocatedspace table 452 or unallocated space bit map 435, the unrecorded areainformation on UDF (ST10). Finally, the management information about thevideo-recording video management data file is rewritten (ST11).

Of the embodiments listed in Table 4, the following management isperformed in LBN/ODD-PS.

It is assumed that a video data recording area 12 and an unused area 13have appeared as a result of new video-recording in the case of thecontiguous data area minimum size 11 previously set as shown in FIG. 72.Then, at the LBN level, a contiguous data area 14 is newly set and aspare area 18 is added to this area. Next, at the PSN level, datarecording areas 15, 16, and a defective area 17, if any, are set, andfurther a spare area 19 is secured. Then, All of these are set as a newAV extent 20 at LBN level.

FIG. 69 is a diagram to help explain a method of recording informationonto an information storage medium according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

Specifically, a spare area 18 is added automatically to each contiguousdata area, thereby forming an AV extent 20 as shown in FIG. 72. LBN isalso set in the added spare area 18. Similarly, LBN is also set in thedefective area 17. The defective area 17 on the information storagemedium 17 is subjected to the skipping replacement algorithm. Then, anLBN setting method as indicated by γ in FIG. 35 is carried out. Thedifference from the other embodiments is that the file system 2 side isnot informed of the location of the defective area, although LBN hasbeen allocated to the defective area, and only the information recordingand reproducing device manages the location of the defective area 17.When the file system 2 side is required to reproduce information, an AVread command issued to the information recording and reproducing devicespecifies LBN indicating the start position of an AV extent 20 servingas a reference, the effective playback start position counted from thestart position (excluding the defective area), and the real size of datato be reproduced (on the assumption that skipping is done at thedefective spot). This enables the information recording and reproducingdevice side to reproduce the information, avoiding the defective area 17automatically, and gives a replay to the file system 2 side.

FIG. 73 shows a management form in writing information over part of thealready recorded information. In this case, information is allowed to bewritten only over from the middle to the end of the contiguous data area34. Specifically, a video data recording area 35 recorded in the pastincludes a data recording area 23 and a defective area 28, if any. Aspare area 31 is added to these. When overwriting is done in the middle,the contiguous data area 34 is set. The contiguous data area 34 includesa video data area 36 recorded in the past and a video data recordingarea 37 newly overwritten (AV address level).

At the PSN level, data recording areas 25, 26, 27 and defective areas29, 30 are managed. In addition, a spare area 32 is set.

FIG. 74 shows two management forms when overwriting is stopped halfway.In this case, the information already recorded after that in the samecontiguous data area (CDA) is treated as invalid. (a) A case whereoverwriting is done from the beginning of the CDA-and (b) a case whereoverwriting is done from the middle of the CDA are shown.

FIG. 75 shows a management form in deleting part of an AV file. In thiscase, a decision is made to effect partial deleting in units ofcontiguous data area (e.g., AV extent #2 46).

Table 11 to Table 14 show the parameters for the commands related torecording and playback in the embodiment LBN/ODD-PS and the contents ofthe commands.

Table 11 relates to a write command from the recording/reproducingapplication to the file system. Table 12 relates to a read command.Table 13 relates to a write command from the file system to therecording and reproducing device. Table 14 relates to a read command.

FIGS. 76, 77, and 78 show the process of recording video data in theembodiment LBN/ODD-PS and the corresponding flowcharts. FIGS. 77 and 78give a description of the way of processing video data #1 and video data#2 to be recorded as shown in FIG. 76.

The embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that theskipping replacement process is completed in each AV extent using spareareas 3111, 3112 added to each of AV extent #1 3101 and AV extent #23102.

Hereinafter, each step will be described as follow:

· Set the size of contiguous data area #1 3106 initially on therecording/reproducing application 1 side (ST21).

· Inquire recommended (spare area size)/(contiguous data area size)value from ODD (information recording and reproducing device) 3 (ST22).

· Set the size of AV extent #1 3101 initially (set spare area size #1)(ST23).

··· Spare area size #1 3111 is set on the “recording/reproducing 1 side”or “file system 2 side.”

· Transfer video data 3125 to the ODD 3 side using a first AV writecommand (ST24).

Execute the skipping process in ODD 3, when a defective area 3138 hasbeen found in recording information on the information storage medium(ST25).

· Transfer video data 3126 to the ODD 3 side using a second AV writecommand (ST26).

··· The last recording in AV extent #1 3101 is known in the second AVwrite command (using the last flag of the contiguous data area flag).

· Put together the information in the last AV extent #1 3103 on the filesystem 2 side and store the result temporarily in the buffer memory onthe file system 2 side (ST27).

· Set the size of contiguous data area #2 3102 initially on therecording and reproducing application 1 side (ST28).

· Set the size of AV extent #2 3102 initially (set spare area size #2)(ST29).

··· Spare area size #2 3112 is set on the “recording/reproducing 1 side”or “file system 2 side.”

· Transfer video data 3127 to the ODD 3 side using a third AV writecommand (ST30).

· Execute the skipping process in ODD 3, when a defective area 3139 hasbeen found in recording information on the information storage medium(ST31).

· The user presses the video-recording end button (ST32).

Determine the unused area size 3136 according to the contiguous dataarea (CDA) minimum size 11 determined previously on therecording/reproducing application side (ST33).

· Reconsider the size 3113 of spare area #2 according to the actual datasize 3109 of contiguous data area #2 (St34).

· Transfer video data 3128 to the ODD 3 side using a fourth AV writecommand (ST35).

··· At the same time, an untransferred area in the LBN space is securedfrom the unused area information (the number n of byte reservations andthe space hold length).

··· The last recording in AV extent #2 3104 is known in the fourth AVwrite command (using the end flag of the contiguous data area flag).

· Put together the information in the last AV extent(#2) 3104 on thefile system 2 side and store the result temporarily in the buffer memoryon the file system 2 side (ST36).

· Additionally write the necessary information in the directorymanagement area of the file system 2 (ST37).

FIGS. 79 and 80 show a method of creating a replacement-only file 3501and another embodiment of the invention related to the process ofreplacing a defective area by this method.

In the above embodiments, the information recording and reproducingdevice 3 carries out most of the process of replacing a defective areausing the method of creating the replacement-only file 3501. Incontrast, the embodiment of FIGS. 79 and 80 is characterized in that thefile system 2 carries out most of such a process.

In FIG. 79, the method of creating the replacement-only file 3501 willbe explained.

After an information storage medium has been installed in theinformation recording and reproducing device (step ST41) and theinformation recording and reproducing device 3 has been prepared forprocessing, the file system 2 issues a command (Get Spare Area SpaceCommand) to the information recording and reproducing device 3 andcauses the information recording and reproducing device to determine theempty area size in the spare area from DMA information 663, 691 on theinformation storage medium (step ST53).

Receiving the Get Spare Area Space Command, the information recordingand reproducing device 3 determines the empty area size in the sparearea from DMA information 663, 691 on the information storage medium andreports the result to the file system 2 side (step ST54). Receiving theempty area size, the file system 2 side judges whether there is asufficient replacement area left in the spare area on the informationstorage medium (step ST43).

When there is a sufficient replacement area left (YES in step ST43), thefile system 2 issues a command (SET DEFECT MANAGEMENT Command) to theinformation recording and reproducing device 3 side and instructs theinformation recording and reproducing device 3 side to manage defects onthe information storage medium and record the defect managementinformation in the DMA areas 663, 691 on the information storage medium(step ST52).

When there is no replacement area left (NO in step ST43), the filesystem judges whether the replacement-only file 3501 has existed already(step ST55). If the existing replacement-only file 3501 is present (YESin step ST55), the file system judges whether there is a sufficientempty storage capacity in the existing replacement-only file (stepST56).

The file system 2 senses the empty storage capacity in thereplacement-only file 3501 from the replacement information recorded ina secondary defect map SDM 3471 created on information storage medium.

If there is a sufficient empty storage capacity in the existingreplacement-only file 3501 (YES in step ST56), a new replacement-onlyfile 3501 is not created. If the existing replacement-only file 3501 isnot present (NO in step ST55), or if the empty storage capacity in theexisting replacement-only file 3501 is insufficient (NO in step ST56),it is judged whether as enough an empty storage capacity as enables thereplacement-only file 3501 to be registered newly is left on theinformation storage medium (step ST556).

If as enough an empty storage capacity as enables the replacement-onlyfile 3501 to be registered newly is left on the information storagemedium (YES in step ST556), the file system 2 side creates areplacement-only file 3501 newly and registers the new file (step ST58).

When the information storage medium is a disk with a large storagecapacity of 4.7 gigabytes or more, a single replacement-only file can bemade to have a relatively large storage capacity of about 32 megabytes.

If there is no empty storage capacity on the information storage mediumin which a new replacement-only file 3501 can be registered (NO in stepST556), error processing, such as outputting a message to prompt theuser to replace the medium, is done (step ST558).

When the file system side creates the replacement-only file 3501 in theprocess in step ST58, the file is taken as a hidden file and added tothe directory.

The identification information about the replacement-only file 3501 isrecorded in a replacement-only file flag (replacement area setting fileflag) 3371 in the file identification descriptor 3364. Specifically, inthe case of the replacement-only file 3501, the bit of the replacementarea setting flag 3371 is made “1.” As another example of identificationinformation about the replacement-only file 3501, a replacement-onlyfile flag (replacement area setting file flag) 3372 may be provided inthe ICB tag 418 in the file entry 3520 provided in the disk.

Next, the process of replacing a defective area carried out mainly bythe file system 2 using the replacement-only file 3501 created throughthe procedure of FIG. 79 will be explained by reference to FIGS. 80 and81.

In FIGS. 80 and 81, after an information storage medium has beeninstalled in the information recording and reproducing device and theinformation recording and reproducing device 3 side has been prepared towrite information, the file system 2 side issues a command (GET SPAREARE SPACE Command) to the information recording and reproducing device 3side and causes the information recording and reproducing device todetermine the empty area size in the spare area from DMA information663, 681 on the information storage medium (step ST53).

Receiving the command, the information recording and reproducing device3 determines the empty area size in the spare area from DMA information663, 691 on the information storage medium and reports the result to thefile system 2 side (step ST54).

Receiving the result, the file system 2 side judges whether there is asufficient replacement area left in the spare area on the informationstorage medium (step ST43).

If there is a sufficient replacement area left, the file system 2 sideissues a command (SET DEFECT MANAGEMENT Command) to the informationrecording and reproducing device 3 side and instructs the informationrecording and reproducing device 3 side to manage defects on theinformation storage medium and record the defect management informationin the DMA areas 663, 691 on the information storage medium (step ST52).

When there is no sufficient replacement area left in the spare area, thefile system 2 decides the use of the replacement-only file 3501 createdby the aforementioned processing procedure.

When information is recorded on the information storage medium, the filesystem 2 side issues a write command (WRITE Command) to the informationrecording and reproducing device 3 and instructs the informationrecording and reproducing device to record PC information (step ST59).

The information recording and reproducing device 3 records the PCinformation in the place on the information storage medium specified bythe file system 2 using the write command and, when encountering adefective ECC block, temporarily stores information about the begin LBNof the defective ECC block and the information to have been recorded inthe defective ECC block into the buffer memory 219 in the informationrecording and reproducing device 3 (step ST60).

The present embodiment is characterized in that the informationrecording and reproducing device 3 temporarily stores information aboutthe begin LBN of the defective ECC block and the information to havebeen recorded in the defective ECC block into the buffer memory 219 inthe information recording and reproducing device 3, without informingthe file system of the found defect each time a defective ECC block isencountered.

After the series of recording process has been completed, the filesystem 2 issues a command (GE DEFECT LIST Command) to the informationrecording and reproducing device 3 and asks the information recordingand reproducing device for information about the position of the defect(step ST61). The contents of the replay to the command given by theinformation recording and reproducing device 3 to the file system 2include (1) the number of defective ECC blocks and (2) information aboutthe begin LBN of each ECC block (step ST62).

Receiving the reply from the information recording and reproducingdevice 3, the file system 2 sets a replacement place for the defectiveECC block in the replacement-only file 3501 and issues a command (SETSPARE AREA LIST Command) to the information recording and reproducingdevice 3 to inform the information recording and reproducing device ofLBN for the replacement area for each defective area (step ST63).

The parameter for the command (SET SPARE AREA LIST Command) is eachbegin LBN of the replacement ECC block in the replacement-only file3501.

As a result, on the basis of the replacement ECC block reported from thefile system 2, the information recording and reproducing device 3carries out the replacement process using the linear replacementalgorithm (step ST64).

After the information recording and reproducing device side hascompleted the replacement process, the file system 2 side adds theaforementioned replacement process information to the secondary defectmap (SDM) 3471 in the sparing table 469 (step ST65).

If in step ST60, the information recording and reproducing deviceinformed the file system 2 of the occurrence of a defect each time itencountered a defective ECC block during recording, it would take timefor the information recording and reproducing device 3 to exchangecommands with the file system 2 side. Since the time required toexchange commands accounts for a relatively large proportion of the timerequired for actual recording, it is needed to decrease the processingtime by reducing exchanges of commands in recording as much as possible.

For this reason, in the embodiment of the present invention, theinformation recording and reproducing device does not inform the filesystem 2 of the defect each time it has encountered a defective ECCblock. Instead, the information recording and reproducing devicetemporarily stores “the defective ECC block position information” and“the information to have been recorded in the defective ECC block” oneafter another into the buffer memory 219 in the information recordingand reproducing device. After the series of recording processes has beencompleted, the information recording and reproducing device carries outthe replacement process at a time by exchanging only two commands (GETDEFECT LIST Command and SET SPARE AREA LIST Command). This reduces thenumber of exchanges of commands between the information recording andreproducing device 3 and the file system 2 remarkably, therebydecreasing the overall processing time remarkably.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 80 and 81, the replacement process (ST52)using the spare area 724 and the replacement process (ST59 to ST65)using the replacement-only file 3501 are carried out independently.Namely, the replacement process (ST52) using the spare area and thereplacement process using the replacement-only file 1 are not carriedout at the same time.

When the spare area has been used up, it was impossible to subject PCinformation to the replacement process in the conventional equivalent.In the above embodiment, however, since there is a replacement-only fileeven when the spare area has been used up, it is possible to subject PCinformation to the replacement process.

Furthermore, even when each replacement-only file (for example, with astorage capacity of about 32 megabytes) has been used up, anotherreplacement-only file can be added newly, as long as there is asufficient empty storage capacity left on the medium. By adding areplacement-only file, if necessary, the replacement process can becontinued even when many defects have occurred on the medium being used,which enables the information to be recorded continuously withoutinterruption.

As another embodiment of the present invention, a method of recordingand managing still another defective management information and unusedarea information will be explained.

In the example of FIG. 82, to additionally write VOB #2 3618 of a smalldata size in contiguous data area #β 3602, an unused area extent 3613 isset for the deficiency in contiguous data area #β 3602. When videoinformation or AV information is recorded additionally in an AV file3620 next time, recording will be started from the begin position (h+gin LBN and k+g in PSN) of the unused area extent 3613.

Although not shown, VOB #3 existed in the past in such a manner that itextends over part of contiguous data area #α 3601 and part of contiguousdata area #β D 3602 between VOB #1 3617 and VOB #2 3618. As a result ofVOB #3 being partly deleted, the part of VOB #3 extending overcontiguous data area #α 3601 and contiguous data area #I 3602 issubjected to the process explained in FIG. 46. An unused area extent3611 and an unused area extent 3612 are set on the file system 2 side.Because a defect in ECC blocks in the range from “h+a” to “h+b−1” in LBNhas been found in recording VOB #1, video information or AV informationis not recorded there and that place has been set as a defective areaextent 3609.

As described above, in contiguous data area #α 3601 and contiguous dataarea #β 3602, recording area extent 3605, defective area extent 3609,recording area extent 3606, unused area extent 3611, unused area extent3612, recording area extent 3607, and unused area extent 3613 arearranged side by side. All of these are considered to be part to the AVfile 3620. As the allocation descriptors in the file entry to the AVfile 3620, all the extents are registered.

In the file entry, AD (a, h: recording), AD (b−a, h+a: defect), AD (c−b,h+b: recording), AD (d−c, h+c: unused), AD (f−e, h+e: unused), AD (g−f,h+f: recording), and AD (j+g, h+g: unused) are registered. The contentsof an allocation descriptor include AD (extent size, extent beginposition, extent attribute).

The most noticeable characteristic in FIG. 82 is that only informationabout the defective area extent 3609 registered in the file entry servesas defect management information without a defect management tableorganized independently, such as the tertiary defect map (TDM) 3472 inthe defect management information area (DMA). The attributeidentification information about each extent in the allocationdescriptor in the file entry to the AV file 3620 has been recorded inImplementation Use 3528 indicated by f in FIG. 83.

In FIG. 83, the-describing system for long allocation descriptors isemployed as a method of describing allocation descriptors. When thevalue of Implementation Use 3528 is “0h,” this means “the extent for arecording area.” When the value is “Ah,” this means “the extent for adefective area.” When the value is “Fh,” this means “the extent for adefective area.” Although in the official standard of UDF,Implementation Use has to be written in 6 bytes, only the low-order 4bits are shown to simplify explanation in FIG. 83. In FIG. 82, LBN andPSN are set for both a defective area and an unused area. All LBN andPSN take the values of parallel translation. Specifically, theembodiment of the present invention is characterized by preventing LBNfrom skipping with respect to PSN as found in the result of the linearreplacement algorithm. AV addresses are allocated only to the placeswhere recording extents 3605, 3606, 3607 exist. The AV addresses aresuch that all the sectors excluding the defective area extent 3609,unused area extents 3611, 3612, 3613 in the AV file 3620 are assignednumbers in the order in which allocation descriptors are written in thefile entry. Specifically, in the first sector in recording area extent3605, LBN is set to “h,” PSN is set to “k,” and AV address is set to“0.” In the first sector in recording area extent 3607, LBN is set to“h+f,” PSN is set to “k+f,” and AV address is set to “a+c−b.”

On a DVD-RAM disk, information is recorded in units of ECC block 502.Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 82, thefile system 2 side performs management in such a manner that recordingis done in ECC blocks. Specifically, the file system 2 performs controlin such a manner that recording is done in ECC blocks by settingextents. A concrete explanation will be given as follows. All of “a,”“b,” “d,” “e,” and “j” are so set that they are a multiple of 16. Inaddition, the start positions of contiguous data area #α 3601 andcontiguous data area #β 3602 become the begin position of an ECC block,and the end positions of the former become the end position of the ECCblock.

Since a defective area is processed in ECC blocks, the start and endpositions of the defect area extent 3609 coincide with the start and endpositions in the ECC block. Each of VOB #1 3616, 3617 and VOB #2 3618size are not necessarily recorded in units of 16 sectors. The overflowfrom the partial ECC blocks in VOB #1 3616, 3617 and VOB #2 3618 iscorrected using the size of the unused area extents 3611, 3612, 3613.

The method of recording video information or AV information in theembodiment of FIG. 82 is the same as that of FIG. 54 except that therecording of information into the Tertiary Defect List (TDL) 3414 in theDMA area is unnecessary in ST4-01 of FIG. 58 and the defective extent3609 and unused area extents 3611, 3612, 2613 are added to the extentinformation in ST4-04.

The present method is characterized in that, although “AV address→LBNconversion→PSN conversion” is caused in the procedure for playback, theattribute for each extent is sensed from the allocation descriptor inthe file entry during “AV address→LBN conversion” and only the recordingarea extents 3605, 2606, 3607 are to be reproduced (the process ofmaking a selection from the defective extent 3609 and unused areaextents 3611, 3612, 2613).

Even in deleting part of a file, the process of inserting an unused areaextent is necessary, taking into account the contiguous data area sizeand ECC block boundary area place, in the process of rewriting theextent information in the file entry to an AV file (ST09).

A disk produced as described above is packed as shown in FIG. 84 andshipped. Specifically, the disk body is housed in a cartridge andfurther wrapped with a wrapping sheet.

The processes ranging from manufacturing optical to shipping thefinished products will be explained briefly. Disks (which enablesrecording and reproducing by the phase change method and are composed ofa single layer, or two layers or more laminated together) aremanufactured. In each disk, physical sector numbers (PSN) have been setand embossed zones have been recorded beforehand. Next, the disk isinitialized. At this time, the disk is formatted, which recordsrewritable zones on the disk. At this time, the areas including DMA1,DMA2, DMA3, DMA4 are formed. In addition, the areas PDL, SDL, and TDL(the defect management areas for the skipping process) are formed.

Next, the disk front surface is subjected to the Certify process. In theCertify process, specific data is recorded on all the surfaces and thefront surface is reproduced to find defects. At this time, when the diskis designed to be capable of recording and reproducing PC data too,defective spots are recorded in PDL.

When the disk is designed to record only AV data, defective places arerecorded as defect management information in TDL.

The above processes enable logical block numbers (LBN) to be set on thedisk. This is because the drive unit side can create a PNL→LBNconversion table using DMA (defect management areas: PDL, SDL, TDL).

Next, conditions are set on the disk so that UDF may be used for a filesystem. Specifically, the volume recognition procedure (volumerecognition sequence) 444, the main volume describing procedure (mainvolume descriptor sequence) 449, a first anchor point 456, a secondanchor point 457, and the reserve volume describing procedure (reservevolume descriptor sequence) 467 are recorded on the disk.

Next, places in which AV data can be recorded are formed:

(a) A root directory 1450 is formed in the recording area (LBN space) onthe disk.

(b) A management file (RWVIDEO_CONTROL.IFO) in which AV data can berecorded is created.

(c) A file in which moving pictures/still pictures, sound, andthumbnails can be recorded is created.

(d) In each file 1401, management information on the basis of AVaddresses is recorded in (RWVIDEO_CONTROL.IFO). At this time,information about the recording position of each file (allocationdescriptor in the file entry) is recorded in logical block numbers(LBN).

Finally, the process of aligning data in recording information in theabove system will be explained further.

FIG. 85 shows an example of the relationship between the AV datarecording areas recorded by the recording method of the presentinvention and ECC blocks #1 to #4. When AV data has been recorded, theboundary between EEC block units does not always coincide with the endposition of the AV data. Therefore, in the recording method of thepresent invention, when there is a gap between the ECC block (in theexample shown, #3) and the end of the AV data, a padding extent iscreated and recorded in that part. Namely, the end of the AV datarecording area is always designed to maintain the boundary between ECCblocks.

In this situation, when AV data or other data is written next time, thedata can be written from the beginning of the next ECC block, making iteasier to process data.

An embodiment that does not insert the padding extent is possible.

Specifically, if the padding extent of FIG. 85 does not exist, when AVdata is written next time, processing is done in ECC blocks through theprocedure as shown in FIG. 86.

As shown in FIG. 86, when an instruction to start recording is given,the data near the end of the data area already recorded is first read(steps B1, B2). This causes the recording/reproducing application torecognize that the data has been recorded up to part of ECC block #3. Inthis case, the ECC block #3 is read and the data to be written next isconcatenated to the read data, thereby creating ECC block #3, which isthen recorded. Specifically, the read data is decoded once (step B3) andthe data to be written next is concatenated to the decoded data tocreate new ECC block #3 (step B4). Thereafter, data is written in ECCblocks (step B5).

The characteristics of the present invention are summarized as follows:

Point 1: LBN are set for both of the defective areas set by the skippingprocess and the replacement areas for the defective areas. These areasare included in the user area.

Point 2: The replacement areas (places immediately after the skippingprocess) can be set arbitrarily on the LBN space. Specifically, thereplacement areas can be set arbitrarily in a first area (user area) inwhich the user can record information.

Point 3: In the same location on the disk, an AV address (a firstaddress) and LBN (a second address) are set. Specifically, both a firstaddress number and a second address number are allocated to the samelocation in the recording area on the information storage medium.

Point 4: The AV addresses do not include the defect/replacement area andthe LBN space includes the defect/replacement area. Specifically, thefirst address number and the second address number are assigned to thereplacement area and only the first address number is assigned to adefective area (the second address number is not assigned to thedefective area).

Point 5: VOB_I:AV address management information and file entry: LBNmanagement information are recorded in parallel. Specifically, a firstinformation management recording area having the management informationmanaged using the first address number and a second managementinformation recording area having the management information managedusing the second address number are provided on the same informationstorage medium.

Point 6: The recording/reproducing application performs management usingAV addresses and the OS side causes AV address→LBN conversion.Specifically, there are provided a section (recording/reproducingapplication) that manages information using the second managementinformation and an address conversion section that causes conversionbetween the second address number and the first address number.

Point 7: At least one file is recorded. The identification informationfor an AV file is recorded in at least one of the recorded files.

Point 8: There is further provided identification means for judgingwhether the file recorded on the information storage medium is an AVfile. The method of recording the relevant file can be changed,depending on whether the recorded file is an AV file.

In point 1, all the recording areas on the information storage mediumare given the first address 20 numbers, logical block numbers (LBN) andboth the defective area 3452 and replacement area 3456 are assigned LBN,as y indicated by in FIG. 35. This makes it possible to leave defectmanagement to the file system 2 side, not to the recording/reproducing25 application software 1, which enables the recording/reproducingapplication software 1 to concentrate on video information managementwithout being bothered with defect management. Differently from thelinear replacement algorithm indicated by β in FIG. 35, setting thereplacement area 3456 in the first area, user area 723 where the usercan record information, enables the replacement area 3456 to be placednear the defective area 3452 occurring in the user area 723, making itunnecessary for the optical head to access the defective area 3452 inthe replacement process, which assures continuous recording.

In point 2, by making it possible to set the replacement area 3456 inany position in the first area or user area 723, the replacement area3456 can be placed just behind the defective area 3452. As a result, thereplacement process can be carried out without causing the optical headto access the defective area at all, which assures more stablecontinuous recording.

In point 3, by allocating the first address, LBN managed by the filesystem 2 as shown in FIG. 29, and the second address, AV address managedby the recording/reproducing application software 1, to the samelocation on the information storage medium, the recording/reproducingapplication software 1 and file system 2 can perform informationmanagement independently, which enables the recording/reproducingapplication software 1 and file system 2 to concentrate on their roles.

In point 4, as compared with the linear replacement algorithm indicatedby β in FIG. 35, the embodiment of the present invention indicated by yin FIG. 35 allocates LBN, the first address number, even to thedefective area 3452, thereby allowing the file system 2 to managedefects on the information storage medium. As seen from b in FIG. 29 andfrom FIG. 50A, because an AV address, the second address number, is notallocated to the defective area, the recording/reproducing applicationsoftware 1 does not perform defect management at all and can concentrateon video information management.

In point 5, by allocating the management information corresponding toLBN managed by the file system 2 to the file entry of FIG. 29 andrecording the video object control information, management informationcorresponding to AV addresses managed by the recording/reproducingapplication software 1, separately on the information storage medium,the recording/reproducing application software 1 and file system 2 cancarry out information management independently and therefore concentrateon their roles.

In point 6, the file system 2 side causes conversion between LBNindicated by a and b in FIG. 29 and AV addresses. This makes itunnecessary for the recording/reproducing application software 1 tocause address conversion, which enables the recording/reproducingapplication software 1 to concentrate video information management.

In point 7 and point 8, an AV flag that can be identified on the filesystem is set in an AV file in advance. The file system 2 eitheridentifies the AV flag added to the AV file or judges whether the fileto be recorded into is an AV file, on the basis of the specification bythe recording/reproducing application 1 (or the file attribute audiovideo (FILE_ATTRIBUTE_AUDIO_VIDEO) flag for a created file). Then, thefile system 2 changes the recording method.

Carrying out the above process assures the continuity of the AV file inrecording reliably.

Furthermore, characteristics of the method of the present invention willbe explained.

<Not only is a logical address set for a defective area, but also anextent is set avoiding the defective area.>

This enables the file system 2 side to recognize the defective area andset an extent, avoiding the defective area 3452. By setting the extentallocated avoiding the defective area in an file entry, the file system2 side can carry out such a process of directly accessing the place tobe reproduced, according to the information recorded in the file entrywithout referring to the defect management information (TDM 3472).

<Skipping is done on a defective area in recording AV information and anextent is set, avoiding the defective area, after the recording has beencompleted.>

When information is recorded, the skipping replacement algorithm isexecuted in subsequent recording, avoiding the defective area 3452 onthe information storage medium. After the recording has been completed,an extent can be set, avoiding the defective area, as shown in stepsST04 and ST4-04 explained in the operation flow.

The place in which video information is recorded and the place in whichthe file entry information has been recorded are separate from eachother. When the extent layout information is recorded each time a smallamount of video information is recorded, the accessing of the opticalhead is needed each time. In contrast, when the extent layout istemporarily stored in the semiconductor memory 219 and all the fileentry information is rewritten after the recording of the whole videoinformation has been completed, this reduces the frequency of accessingof the optical head.

<A Contiguous Data Area is Set in Such a Manner that it Extends Over aDefective Area and Another Existing File Recording Area.>

When extent #1 3571, extent #2 3572, extent #3 3573 are set, avoidingthe defective area 3566, the LBN address allocated to the defective area3566 after the setting is subjected to the linear replacement process,which might permit a PC file to be put in the defective area. There is astrong possibility that PC files will be recorded in the defective areain such a manner that they are interspersed in the defective area. Oncethe condition for setting contiguous data areas has been so determinedthat the addresses in the contiguous data area should be alwaysconsecutive, if a PC file has been already put in the defective area, itis impossible to secure a contiguous data area, even when an attempt ismade to delete extent #1, extent #2, and extent #3 and record AVinformation again.

In the present invention, however, even when a PC file subjected to thelinear replacement process has been put in the defective area, acontiguous data area can be set again after the extents have beendeleted, which enables the area on the information storage medium to beused effectively.

<As a general rule, although AV information is recorded on theinformation storage medium in units of contiguous data area #1 3505, #23506, or #3 3506, when the data size of pieces of video information3513, 3514 additionally recorded is smaller than the contiguous datasize, unused areas 3515, 3516 are defined (FIG. 43).>

Then, by setting the subsequent recording information so that it may berecorded from the unused area, short-time pictures are video-recordedone after another as, for example, “one-shot recording” and later theinformation can be reproduced continuously.

<The write command and the defect processing method are changedaccording to the type of information.>

It is judged whether a file to be processed is a PC file or an AV file.It is then decided whether WRITE command (linear replacement as thedefect processing method) or AV WRITE command (skipping replacement asthe defect processing method). In the case of a PC file, extents areset, taking no account of contiguous data areas. In the case of an AVfile, AV information is recorded in units of a contiguous data area andan unused area is set for the fractions of the recording information inthe contiguous data area. This enables AV information to be recordedcontinuously and the recording area on the storage medium to be usedeffectively.

<The size of a contiguous data area is limited to a specific size orless.>

This enables AV information to be recorded continuously and stably.

<The unused size is managed on the file system.>

Let {total extent size (or file size)−information length}=unused areasize: then, unused areas 3515, 3516 can be managed by a simple methodwithout changing the UDF standard.

<An unused area is treated as an unused VOB and managed on therecording/reproducing application side.>

Management information about unused VOB 3552, 3553 is recorded in thevideo object control informnation. This enables therecording/reproducing application 1 side recognize the contents of theAV information to manage the unused areas, assuring fine unused areamanagement.

<Recording is done form the start position of the unused area in a filein re-recording (additional recording).>

By defining unused areas 3515, 3516 and doing setting so that theinformation to be recorded next may be recorded from the start positionof the unused area, short-time moving pictures are recorded in sequenceas one-shot video-recording and later the information can be reproducedcontinuously.

<When part of the information is deleted, the information is deleted inunits of a contiguous data area (CDA). There are two methods of leavingan unused area.>

One is setting an unused VOB in FIG. 46, and the other is setting anunused extent in FIG. 47. When part of an AV file is deleted, theremaining part is left as unused area, which enables another AVinformation to be recorded. At this time, because the information hasbeen deleted in units of CDA, a new CDA is easy to set in that place andcan be set.

<The recording places after presetting/continuous recording/recordingare registered.>

The process in step ST02 is the process of searching for the place inwhich information is to be recorded on the information storage medium.The process in step ST03 is the process of recording informationactually.

For example, when a television program is recorded, the recording timemight not be estimated. To overcome this problem, in the system, therecording/reproducing application 1 side sets the estimated maximumamount of recording for continuous recording and informs the file system2 side of the amount using a Set Unrecorded Area command. Then,according to the size received, the file system 2 side sets thescheduled recording place on the information storage medium in advanceand, if recording is interrupted halfway, opens the scheduled recordingplace. This enables not only AV information to be recorded stably andcontinuously but also the data are to be used effectively.

<Extent information about the scheduled recording place can be recordedin the allocation descriptor in the file entry to an AV file.>

With the information recording and reproducing device connected to EEEE1394 or the like, while the first device is recording video informationon the information storage medium, PC information might have to berecorded on the information storage medium according to an instructiongiven by another device. In this case, as in step ST-06, the file system2 pre-records the extent information about the scheduled recording placefor AV information into the allocation descriptor in the file entry tothe relevant AV file, which prevents another PC information from beingrecorded in the scheduled recording place for video information.

<File partial delete command for API command>

A first recording process layer composed of a recording and reproducingdevice that records information on an information storage medium meansthe recording/reproducing application 1. A second recording processlayer controlling the first recording process layer composed of a filesystem part controlling the place where information is to be recordedmeans the file system 2. A third recording process layer existing as anapplication layer that gives a command to the second recording processlayer to control the latter means the information recording andreproducing device 3.

The command to delete only part of a file the third recording processlayer gives to the second recording process layer is “Delete Part OfFile Command.”

AV information and audio information have a large file size. Thus, useof a method of dealing with the whole file to delete part of the fileand re-recording the whole file only part of which has been deleted onthe information storage medium requires a tremendous length of recordingtime. In contrast, use of a partial delete command enables the desiredpart to be deleted in a short time.

<Command (SEND PRESET EXTENT ALLOCATION MAP COMMAND)>

Before the first recording process layer records information, the secondrecording process layer not only sets in advance the place whereinformation is to be recorded, but also gives the first recordingprocess layer the command “SEND PRESET EXTENT ALLOCATION MAP COMMAND” toinform the first recording process layer of the set information.

When a defective area is encountered in the course of recordinginformation, the skipping replacement algorithm is executed. Althoughoverflow information is created here, if the information recording andreproducing side has been informed of the extent allocation table as thescheduled recording places beforehand, the overflow information can berecorded continuously in the next scheduled recording place, whichprevents continuous recording from being interrupted.

<Command (GET WRITE STATUS COMMAND)>

A command to instruct the first recording process layer to report itsrecording state to the second recording process layer is the command(GET WRITE STATUS COMMAND). When many defective areas take place on theinformation storage medium, the information temporarily stored in thebuffer memory 219 in the information recording and reproducing devicegets saturated, which prevents video information from being recordedcontinuously. Then, the command (GET WRITE STATUS COMMAND) is issued tomonitor the status of the buffer memory 219. The file system 2 side thenperforms control so that the memory 219 may not get saturated.

<Defect management information about PC information and that about AVinformation are separated.>

This facilitates defect management. Recording the respective types ofinformation separately facilities the management and setting ofcontiguous data areas. The most suitable defect management can beperformed on each of PC information and AV information.

FIG. 87 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of description ofthe file structure using extents in a file descriptive statement relatedto the information recording method according to the present invention.

FIG. 88 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of allocating extentsto an unrecorded area by the information recording method according tothe present invention.

<Defect management information>

The replacement methods include a first replacement (slipping) method, asecond replacement (linear replacement) method, and a third replacement(skipping) method. Defect management information related to the firstreplacement method is represented by PDL 3412, defect managementinformation related to the second replacement method is represented bySDL 3413 or SDL 3471, and defect management information related to thethird replacement method is represented by TDL 3414 or SDL 3472.

That the defect management information related to the third replacementmethod is written as physical address information means that it isrecorded as defect management information TDL 3414 and that theinformation recording and reproducing device performs defect management.This enables the file system to concentrate on the management of therecording places on the LBN space without being bothered withtroublesome defect management.

That the defect management information related to the third replacementmethod is written as physical address information means that it isrecorded as defect management information TDL 3472 and that the filesystem 2 side performs defect management. The defect management by thefile system 2 side enables fine defect management, which facilitates themanagement and setting of contiguous data areas 3593.

As described above, according to the present invention, there areprovided not only a recording method which enables stable continuousrecording without being affected by the existence of many defectiveareas on an information storage medium but also an information recordingand reproducing device which uses the recording method. There is furtherprovided an information storage medium (as well as the data structure ofthe information recorded on the medium) on which information has beenrecorded in the most suitable form for the stable continuous recording.

Furthermore, there is provided an environment setting method(specifically, a video information recording/reproducing/editing system)which assures stable video information management without imposing aburden on the recording/reproducing application software layer (orwithout causing the recording/ reproducing application software layer toperform defect management), even when many defective areas are presenton the information storage medium.

While in the above explanation, the optical head has recorded andreproduced the information onto and from the optical disk, the presentinvention is not limited to this. For instance, the present inventionmay be applied to a case where a magnetic head accesses the informationon a magnetic disk or a hard disk.

The present invention is applicable to an information storage medium,such as an optical disk, its data structure, an information recordingmethod, an information recording device, and a playback device.

TABLE 1 LIST OF FUNCTIONS (EFFECTS OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENTINVENTION) NECESSARY IN RECORDING AND REPRODUCING VIDEO INFORMATION(LIST OF EFFECTS PRODUCED BY VIDEO INFORMATION RECORDING AND REPRODUCINGDEVICE OF THE PRESENT INVENTION) REQUEST SIDE EFFECT OF EFFECT AND ANDFUNCTION FUNCTION DESCRIPTION OF REQUESTED FUNCTIONS (EFFECTS) ANDSUPPLEMENTARY EXPLANATION ESSENTIAL APPLICATION BOTH AV FILES AND PCFILES ARE ALLOWED TO EXIST ON INFORMATION STORAGE MEDIUM. FUNCTIONSSIDE'S . . . AV FILES AND PC FILES ARE DISTINGUISHED AND HANDLED ON FILESYSTEM. (EFFECTS) VIDEO AV FILE SIZE IS ALLOWED TO EXPAND. INFORMATION .. . AV FILE EXTENTS ARE ADDITIONALLY SECURED IN EMPTY AREA ONINFORMATION STORAGE MEDIUM. AV FILE SIZE IS ALLOWED TO BE DECREASED. . .. PART OF AV FILE IS ALLOWED TO BE DELETED. CONTINUITY OF RECORDING ISSECURED (REAL-TIME RECORDING) . . . RECORDING IN CONTIGUOUS DATA AREAUNITS, SLIPPING PROCESS IN DEFECTIVE SPOT CONTINUOUS PLAYBACK IS SECURED(E.G., CONTINUOUS PLAYBACK OF ADDITIONAL PICTURES AFTER SEQUENTIALADDITION OF SHORT-TIME RECORDING PICTURES) . . . SHORT-TIME ONE-SHOTRECORDING IS ALSO DONE IN CONTIGUOUS DATA AREAS AND NEXT SHORT-TIMERECORDING PICTURES ARE ADDITIONALLY RECORDED IN UNUSED AREA INCONTIGUOUS DATA AREA. . . . CONTINUOUS PLAYBACK ACCORDING TO ORIGINALPGC (DIRECTLY AFTER RECORDING) IS GUARANTEED. PROCESS OF DELETING PARTOF SPECIFIC RANGE (IN CONTIGUOUS DATA AREAS) IN AV FILE RELIABILITY OFVIDEO DATA IN VIDEO-RECORDING (RECORDING)/PLAYBACK IS SECURED. . . .DEFECTIVE PLACE ON INFORMATION STORAGE MEDIUM IS REPLACED INVIDEO-RECORDING (RECORDING). REQUESTED APPLICATION ARRANGEMENT OF VOB ISALLOWED TO BE CHANGED ON ORIGINAL PGC FUNCTIONS SIDE'S VIDEO DATA UP TOTHE MIDDLE IS ALIVE EVEN IF POWER SUPPLY IS TURNED OFF IN THE (EFFECTS)REQUEST TO COURSE OF VIDEO RECORDING VIDEO WHEN VIDEO DATA IS RECORDEDOR REPRODUCED, ONLY REAL DATA IS INPUTTED OR INFORMATION OUTPUTTED. . .. WHEN VIDEO DATA IS RECORDED OR REPRODUCED, “RECORDING/REPRODUCINGAPPLICATION” SIDE IS UNWILLING TO PERFORM THE ADDING/DELETING OFADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR THE SECURING OF RESERVE SPARE AREA AS A RESULTOF REPLACEMENT. . . . IT IS HOPED THAT MANAGEMENT OF ADDITIONALINFORMATION EXCEPT FOR REAL DATA IS ELIMINATED AND ADDRESS MANAGEMENT OFREAL DATA IN AV FILE IS SIMPLIFIED (CORRESPONDENCE TO LBN ISSIMPLIFIED). “RECORDING/REPRODUCING APPLICATION” SIDE DOES NOT MANAGEDEFECTS ON INFORMATION STORAGE MEDIUM “RECORDING/REPRODUCINGAPPLICATION” SIDE DOES NOT MANAGE CONTIGUOUS DATA AREAS“RECORDING/REPRODUCING APPLICATION” SIDE HAS AS LITTLE ADDRESSMANAGEMENT INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE

TABLE 2 REQUEST SIDE EFFECT OF EFFECT AND AND FUNCTION FUNCTIONDESCRIPTION OF REQUESTED FUNCTIONS (EFFECTS) AND SUPPLEMENTARYEXPLANATION REQUESTED FILE SYSTEM ANOTHER PIECE OF VIDEO INFORMATION CANBE RECORDED/USED AGAIN IN PARTLY DELETED FUNCTIONS (OS) SIDE'S PLACE INAV FILE. (EFFECTS) REQUEST . . . ON USER I/F, THIS MEANS THAT ANOTHERPICTURE IS ALLOWED TO BE WRITTEN OVER THE RECORDED PLACE IN AV FILE WHENTHE REMAINDER IS SMALL. . . . IT IS NECESSARY TO SECURE CONTIGUOUS DATAAREA SIZE IN RE-RECORDING ANOTHER PICTURE. RECORDABLE AREA (REMAINDER)AFTER THE REPETITION OF RECORDING/PARTIAL DELETING IS SECURED. . . .GARBAGE COLLECTION/DEFRAGMENTATION IS TO BE EXECUTED. API COMMANDBETWEEN APPLICATION SOFTWARE IS UNWILLING TO BE CHANGED. . . . IT ISHOPED THAT MEASURES ARE TAKEN BY CHANGING ONLY LOW LEVELS OF HIERARCHYOF OS/FS WITHOUT CHANGING HIGH LEVELS OF HIERARCHY. PROCESS ADAPTED ASMUCH TO EXISTING COMMAND IDEAS AS POSSIBLE IS CARRIED OUT. . . .SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT IS FACILITATED WITHOUT GIVING SOFTWARE DEVELOPER ASENSE OF INCONGRUITY. TRANSPLANTATION AND INTERCHANGEABLITY OFRECORDING/REPRODUCING DVD DATA TO ANOTHER MEDIUM (E.G., HDD) AREIMPROVED COMPATIBILITY WITH DVD-ROM VIDEO IS IMPROVED EXISTING 2.6-GBDVD-RAM STANDARD PART 2 IS NOT CHANGED REQUESTED FILE SYSTEM NO ITEM ISADDED TO EXISTING MANAGEMENT INFORMATION MANAGED BY UDF SIDE. FUNCTIONS(OS) SIDE'S . . . REPLACEMENT TABLE FOR DEFECTIVE SPOTS, RESERVE SPAREAREA ADDRESS TABLE, AND (EFFECTS) REQUEST OTHERS CHANGES IN UDF CONTROLSOFTWARE COMPATIBLE WITH EXISTING DVD-RAM ARE FEW. . . . DEFECTMANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION STORAGE MEDIUM IS NOT PERFORMED ON UDF CONTROLSOFTWARE. ODD SIDE'S CONTINUOUS RECORDING IS NOT INTERRUPTED AS A RESULTOF COMMAND PROCESSING AT THE REQUEST OCCURRENCE OF DEFECT NEITHERINTERRUPTION OF CONTINUOUS RECORDING NOR LOSS OF VIDEO DATA TAKES PLACEWHEN MANY CONSECUTIVE DEFECTS HAVE OCCURRED INFORMATION ABOUT DEFECTDISTRIBUTION OVER INFORMATION STORAGE MEDIUM IS PREVENTED FROM GOING OUTOF ODD CORRELATION BETWEEN PSN AND LBN IS CLEAR EVEN AFTER REWRITING ISDONE REPEATEDLY AS LARGE A RECORDABLE AREA (RECORDING CAPACITY) ONINFORMATION STORAGE MEDIUM IS SECURED AS POSSIBLE [LARGER STORAGECAPACITY]. . . . INITIAL SPARE AREA SIZE IS MADE SMALLER. . . . WASTE OFRECORDING AREA (UNUSED AREA BECAUSE OF SPARE AREA) IS ELIMINATED. THEAMOUNT OF INFORMATION IN DMA (DEFECT MANAGEMENT INFORMATION) ISDECREASED DEFECT MANAGEMENT (E.G., REPLACEMENT) CONTROL OF ODD ISSIMPLIFIED

TABLE 3 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PROGRAM SOFTWARE HIERARCHICALSTRUCTURE AND THE ADDRESS SPACE USED AT EACH LEVEL OF HIERARCHY ON PCWHEN VIDEO INFORMATION IS RECORDED AND REPRODUCED ON PC USINGRECORDING/REPRODUCING APPLICATION SOFTWARE ADDRESS NUMBER CONTROL LAYERINTERFACE NAME DESCRIPTION OF ADDRESS SPACE VIDEO PLAYBACK SDK APIRELATIVE ADDRESS CONTINUOUS ADDRESS NUMBERS IN APPLICATION SOFTWARECOMMAND 4 IN AV FILE AV FILE, WITH BEGIN POSITION (RECORDING/REPRODUCING(AV ADDRESS) OF AV FILE BEING ADDRESS “0” APPLICATION) 1 FS: FILE SYSTEMDDK LSN BOTH ARE ASSIGNED LOGICAL (E.G., UDF) 2 INTERFACE LBNCONSECUTIVE NUMBERS IN UNITS COMMAND 5 OF 2 KB ODD: OPTICAL DISK PSN:Physical EACH SECTOR ON INFORMATION DRIVER 3 (INFORMATION Sector NumberSTORAGE MEDIUM (OPTICAL DISK) RECORDING AND HAS BEEN ASSIGNED PHYSICALREPRODUCING DEVICE) NUMBER BEFOREHAND LSN: LOGICAL SECTOR NUMBER; LBN:LOGICAL BLOCK NUMBER

TABLE 4 DEFECT MANAGEMENT ON INFORMATION STORAGE MEDIUM AND UNUSED AREASIN AV FILE TABLE SHOWING COMPARISON BETWEEN EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENTINVENTION ABOUT MANAGEMENT RESERVE SPARE AREA IS NOT RESERVE SPARE AREAIS MANAGEMENT PLACE AND SECURED BEFOREHAND IN SECURED IN CREATINGMANAGEMENT METHOD OF CREATING CONTIGUOUS DATA CONTIGUOUS DATA AREAUNUSED AREAS IN AV AREA. (PS: PRE-SPARE) FILE LBN ARE NOT SET FOR XXXX-PS RECORDING/ DEFECTIVE PLACES AND PSN FOR LBN IS SHIFTED PSN SHIFTOF DEFECT + REPRODUCING SPARE AREAS. INFORMATION EACH TIME DEFECTOCCURS. RESERVE SPARE IS EFFECTED APPLICATION 1 SIDE ABOUT DEFECTS IS INDMA. REAL DATA SIZE = EXTENT ON LBN IN UNITS OF CDA. MANAGES UNUSED AREASIZE INFORMATION IN AV LBN ARE DEFECT LBN/0DD LBN/0DD-PS FILE AS “UNUSEDVOB.” SET FOR INFORMATION IS DEFECTIVE PLACE IS DEFECTIVE PLACES AND THEUNUSED VOB DEFECTIVE RECORDED IN INCLUDED IN EXTENT. RESERVE SPARE AREASARE INFORMATION IS PLACES. DMA AND IN PLAYBACK, INCLUDED IN EXTENT.RECORDED IN VIDEO MANAGEMENT RECORDING/REPRODUCING ODD3 MANAGES THEOBJECT CONTROL FILE SYSTEM 2 APPLICATION REQUEST POSITION AND SIZE OFINFORMATION 1107 IN SIDE HAS REPLY ONLY ABOUT REAL RESERVE SPARE AREAS.FILE CONTROL INFORMATION NOTHING TO DO DATA FROM ODD3. SYSTEM SIDE HASNOTHING 1011. WITH DEFECTIVE (UDF SIDE ACTS AS TO DO WITH THEINFORMATION IN INTERMEDIARY) MANAGEMENT. THE CONNECTIONRECORDING/REPRODUCING REMAINING PROCESSES ARE WITH 0DD3. APPLICATION 1SIDE THE SAME AS THOSE OF MANAGES CDA BOUNDARY LBN/ODD. POSITION. LBNARE FS2 SIDE ALSO LBN/UDF LBN/UDF-PS THE SIZE OF SET FOR DEALS WITHDEFECTIVE PLACES ARE INCLUDED DEFECTIVE PLACES AND RECORDED AREA FROMDEFECTIVE PROCESSES IN EXTENT. RESERVE SPARE AREAS ARE BEGIN POSITION OFPLACES. RELATED TO CDA SIZE IS MADE VARIABLE. INCLUDED IN EXTENT. AVFILE IS DEFECT THERE IS NO CDA BOUNDARY FS2 SIDE MANAGES THE RECORDED ININFORMATION. POSITION MANAGEMENT. POSITION AND SIZE OF INFORMATIONLENGTH DEFECT ONLY REAL DATA IS TRANSFERRED RESERVE SPARE AREAS. IN FILEENTRY MANAGEMENT TO RECORDING/REPRODUCING THE REMAINING PROCESSESINFORMATION. FILE INFORMATION APPLICATION 1 SIDE IN ARE THE SAME ASTHOSE SYSTEM 2 SIDE IS RECORDED PLAYBACK. OF LBN/UDF. (UDF) MANAGES INDEFECT LBN/UDF-CDAFix UNUSED AREAS IN AV MANAGEMENT CDA SIZE ANDBOUNDARY FILE. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION POSITION ARE FIXED IN ADVANCE.RECORDING RECORDING THE REMAINING PROCESSES ARE INFORMATION IS POSITIONON THE SAME AS THOSE OF LBN/UDF. RECORDED FROM THE FS2 SIDE. BEGINPOSITION OF EXTENT IS LBN/XXX LBN/XXX-PS UNUSED AREA IN AV SET, AVOIDINGINFORMATION ABOUT DEFECTIVE DEFECTIVE AREAS ARE FILE. DEFECTIVE PLACESARE KNOWN ODD3 IN REMOVED FROM EXTENT. AREA → RECORDING AND REMOVED FROMFS MANAGES RESERVE DEFECT EXTENT. SPARE AREAS IN EXTENT. INFORMATION THEREMAINING PROCESSES ARE IN DMA. THE SAME AS THOSE OF LBN/UDF. LBN:LOGICAL BLOCK NUMBER; CDA: CONTIGUOUS DATA AREA PSN: PHYSICAL SECTORNUMBER

TABLE 5 TABLE LISTING THE EFFECTS OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENTINVENTION DEGREE OF PLACE IMPORTANCE REQUESTING OF REQUESTED FUNCTIONSFUNCTIONS DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS REQUESTED FUNCTIONS (EFFECTS) ANDEFFECTS FUNCTIONS (EFFECTS) AND EFFECTS xx xx-PS LBN/ODD LBN/ODD-PSLBN/UDF LBN/UDF-PS LBN/xxx LBN/xxx-PS ESSENTIAL RECORDING/ AV FILE ANDPC FILE ARE ALLOWED TO BE ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ EFFECTS REPRODUCING PRESENTAT THE SAME PLACE APPLICATION AV FILE SIZE CAN BE INCREASED ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆⋆ ⋆ ⋆ SIDE'S AV FILE SIZE CAN BE DECREASED ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ REQUESTCONTINUITY IN RECORDING IS SECURED ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ CONTINUOUS PLAYBACK(AFTER ADDITION OF ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ SHORT-TIME RECORDED PICTURES)PROCESS OF DELETING PART OF AV FILE ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ RELIABILITY OFDATA IN RECORDING/REPRODUCING ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ REQUESTED CHANGE OF VOBARRANGEMENT IN ORIGINAL PGC ⊚ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ FUNCTIONS VIDEO-RECORDINGDATA IS ALIVE WHEN POWER ◯ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ (EFFECTS) SUPPLY IS TURNEDOFF I/O PROCESS OF ONLY REAL DATA ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯RECORDING/REPRODUCING APPLICATION DOES Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ NOT MANAGEDEFECTS RECORDING/REPRODUCING APPLICATION SIDE Δ ∇ ∇ ∇ ∇ Δ Δ ∇ ∇ DOESNOT PERFORM C.D.A MANAGEMENT AS LITTLE ADDRESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION Δ∇ ∇ ∇ ∇ Δ Δ ∇ ∇ AS POSSIBLE REQUESTED FS SIDE'S PARTLY DELETED PART CANBE RE-RECORDED OR REUSED ⊚ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ ∇ ∇ FUNCTIONS REQUEST REMAINDERIS SECURED AFTER REPETITION OF ⊚ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ ∇ ∇ (EFFECTS) RECORDING ORDELETING API COMMAND IS UNWILLING TO BE CHANGED ◯ Δ ∇ Δ ∇ Δ Δ Δ ΔPROCESS ADAPTED TO EXISTING COMMAND IDEAS ◯ Δ Δ ∇ ∇ Δ ∇ Δ ∇TRANSPLANTATION (INTERCHANGEABLITY) OF Δ Δ ∇ Δ ∇ ∇ ∇ Δ Δ DATA TO ANOTHERMEDIUM COMPATIBILITY WITH DVD-ROM VIDEO Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ ∇ Δ ∇ DVD-RAMSTANDARD PART 2 IS NOT CHANGED Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ ∇ ∇ Δ Δ NO ITEM IS ADDED TOMANAGEMENT Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ ∇ ∇ Δ Δ INFORMATION ON UDF MINOR CHANGE IN DVD-RAMUDF SOFTWARE Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ ∇ ∇ ∇ ∇ ODD SIDE'S CONTINUOUS RECORDING IS NOTINTERRUPTED ⊚ X ⊚ X ⊚ X ⊚ X ⊚ REQUEST BY COMMAND PROCESS MEASURES CAN BETAKEN WHEN MANY ⊚ X ▾ X ▾ X ▾ X ▾ CONSECUTIVE DEFECTS HAVE OCCURREDINFORMATION ABOUT DEFECT DISTRIBUTION OVER ⊚ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ▾ ▾ ▾ ▾ INFORMATIONIS PREVENTED FROM GOING OUT OF ODD CORRELATION BETWEEN PSN AND LBN ISCLEAR ⊚ X X ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ WASTE OF RECORDING AREA IS ELIMINATED ◯ ◯ ▾ ◯ ▾◯ ▾ ◯ ▾ THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION IN DMA IS DECREASED Δ ∇ ∇ ∇ ∇ Δ Δ ∇ ∇DEFECT MANAGEMENT CONTROL OF ODD IS SIMPLIFIED Δ ▾ ▾ ∇ ∇ Δ Δ ∇ ∇ ⊚:IMPORTANT EFFECT, ◯: GREAT EFFECT, Δ: LESS EFFECT, ∇: MINOR DRAWBACK, ▾:MAJOR DRAWBACK, X: SERIOUS DRAWBACK

TABLE 6 DATA STRUCTURE OF ALLOCATION MAP TABLE WHENRECORDING/REPRODUCING APPLICATION MANAGES THE BOUNDARY POSITION OFCONTIGUOUS DATA AREA IN THE EMBODIMENTS LBN/ODD, LBN/ODD-PS, XX, ANDXX-PS [CONTIGUOUS DATA AREA BOUNDARY INFORMATION IN AV ADDRESS]INFORMATION ABOUT EXAMPLE OF VALUE IN USING THE EMBODIMENT ALLOCATIONMAP TABLE OF FIG. 36 NUMBER OF CONTIGUOUS DATA 3 AREAS IN AV FILE (NOTE:EXTENT # δ, EXTENT # γ, EXTENT # α) THE LAST AV ADDRESS IN THE f − e − 1FIRST CONTIGUOUS DATA AREA THE LAST AV ADDRESS IN THE f − e + d − c − 1SECOND CONTIGUOUS DATA AREA THE LAST AV ADDRESS IN THE f − e + d − c + b− a − 1 THIRD CONTIGUOUS DATA AREA

TABLE 7 TABLE HELP TO EXPLAIN OTHER EMBODIMENTS RELATED TO A METHOD OFRECORDING DEFECT MANAGEMENT INFORMATION MANAGED BY FILE SYSTEM 2 SIDEMETHOD NO. DESCRIPTION RELATION WITH EXTENT ADVANTAGE AND EFFECT {circlearound (1)} HIDDEN FILE IS CREATED CHANGE OF UDF DRIVE WILL DO ANDDEFECT MAP NUMBER OF CHANGED PLACES IS INFORMATION IS WRITTEN SMALL INIT {circle around (2)} LONG ALLOCATION DEFECTIVE AREA IS MINOR CHANGE OFUDF DESCRIPTOR IS USED IN MADE ANOTHER EXTENT STANDARD WILL DO AV FILEAND DEFECT NUMBER OF CHANGED PLACES IS FLAG IS SET IN SMALLIMPLEMENTATION

TABLE 8 TABLE LISTING METHODS OF SETTTNG UNUSED AREAS IN EXTENTS EXCEPTFOR THOSE IN FIGS. 43 AND 47 METHOD NO. DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGE AND EFFECT{circle around (3)} LBN FOR UNUSED AREA START IS WRITTEN IN MINOR CHANGEOF UDF STANDARD WILL DO PADDING AREA IN FILE IDENTIFICATION DESCRIPTOR{circle around (4)} RESERVED SIZE OF FILE ENTRY/ICB TAG IS MINOR CHANGEOF UDF STANDARD WILL DO INCREASED TO 4 BYTES AND UNUSED AREA START LBNIS WRITTEN {circle around (5)} HIDDEN FILE IS CREATED AND UNUSED AREAONLY CHANGE OF UDF DRIVE WILL DO START LBN IS WRITTEN IN THE FILE{circle around (6)} LONG ALLOCATION DESCRIPTOR IS USED ONLY MINOR CHANGEOF UDF STANDARD WILL DO IN AV FILE AND UNUSED AREA START LBN IS WRITTENIN IMPLEMENTATION USE OF THE RELEVANT EXTENT

TABLE 9 TABLE LISTING VARIOUS API COMMANDS USED IN RECORDING VIDEOINFORMATION IN LBN/UDF AND LBN/XX COMMAND COMMAND OVERVIEW COMMANDPARAMETER RETURN VALUE COMMAND TYPE NAME 3401 3402 3403 3404 3405 CreateFile FILE OPEN PROCESS AV FILE ATTRIBUTE EXISTING RETURN NEW MATTER FILERECORDING FLAG IS ADDED TO VALUE IS USED AS IS ADDED TO STARTDECLARATION EXISTING PARAMETER IT IS EXISTING FILE PLAYBACK STARTCOMMAND DECLARATION Set Unrecorded SPECIFY UNUSED AREA SETTING START LBNINFORMATION NEW COMMAND Area SIZE IN AV FILE VALUE RECEPTION COMPLETEUNUSED AREA SIZE OR RECEPTION FAILURE Write File FILE RECORDING EXISTINGPARAMETER EXISTING RETURN EXISTING PROCESS VALUE COMMAND Read File FILEREPRODUCING EXISTING PARAMETER EXISTING RETURN EXISTING PROCESS VALUECOMMAND Delete Part Of DELETE PART OF FILE DELETE START POINTER PROCESSSUCCESSFUL NEW COMMAND File DELETED DATA SIZE OR UNSUCCESSFUL CloseHandle END RECORDING/ EXISTING PARAMETER EXISTING RETURN EXISTINGREPRODUCING PROCESS VALUE COMMAND Get AV Free CHECK UNRECORDED CDASETTING TOTAL UNRECORDED NEW COMMAND Space Size AREA SIZE CONDITION SIZEChange Order REARRANGE THE ORDER START POINTER BEFORE PROCESS SUCCESSFULNEW COMMAND IN FILE CHANGE OR UNSUCCESSFUL CHANGED PLACE SIZE STARTPOINTER AFTER CHANGE AV Defrag- EXPAND CDA AREA CDA SETTING PROCESSSUCCESSFUL NEW COMMAND mentation THAT CAN BE SET CONDITION ORUNSUCCESSFUL

TABLE 10 TABLE LISTING COMMANDS USED WITH INFORMATION RECORDING ANDREPRODUCING DEVICE CORRESPONDING TO LBN/UDF, LBN/XXX COMMAND NAMECOMMAND OVERVIEW COMMAND PARAMETER RETURN VALUE (STATUS) 33 3342 22433344 AV WRITE VIDEO INFORMATION RECORDING START POSITION (LBNINFORMATION AS TO WHETHER RECORDING PROCESS SPECIFICATION OR PRESENTPOSITION) COMMAND HAS BEEN COMMAND RELATED TO AV DATA SIZE (NO. OFSECTORS) RECEIVED FILES END POSITION OF RELEVANT EXTENT START POSITIONOF NEXT EXTENT END POSITION OF NEXT EXTENT SLOT_ID (SLOT ID) AV WRITENUMBER GET WRITE REQUEST THE AMOUNT OF START LBN VALUE OF SPECIFIEDRANGE AMOUNT OF ROOM IN BUFFER STATUS ROOM IN BUFFER MEMORY MEMORY 219(NO. OF BYTES) 219 IN INFORMATION NUMBER OF DEFECTIVE ECC RECORDING ANDBLOCKS REPRODUCING DEVICE AT SIZE OF SPECIFIED RANGE FIRST ECC BLOCK LBNPRESENT AND LBN VALUE (NO. OF SECTORS) SECOND ECC BLOCK AT EACHDEFECTIVE ECC BLOCK BEGIN POSITION IN SPECIFIED RANGE BY LBN DISCARDDISCARD PRECEDING COMMAND NUMBER OF PRECEDING COMMANDS INFORMATION AS TOPRECEDING RECORDED ON INFORMATION FIRST DELETED COMMAND NO. WHETHERCOMMAND HAS COMMAND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING BEEN RECEIVED DEVICE SIDEADJUST THE AMOUNT OF SECOND DELETED COMMAND NO. TRANSFERRED DATAACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF DEFECTS ON INFORMATION STORAGE READ PLAYBACKPROCESS COMMAND PLAYBACK START POSITION (LBN) DATA SIZE (NO. OF FOR AVFILES AND PC FILES DATA SIZE (NO. OF SECTORS) SECTORS) REPRODUCED DATAGET REOUEST ZONE BOUNDARY PERFORMANCE POSITION INFORMATION ON START LBNVALUE OF SPECIFIED RANGE ZONE BOUNDARY POSITION INFORMATION STORAGEMEDIUM SIZE OF SPECIFIED RANGE IN SPECIFIED RANGE AND AND DMAINFORMATION (LBN (NO. OF SECTORS) DMA INFORMATION (VALUE CONVERSION)AFTER LBN CONVERSION) SEND PRESENT REPORT LOCATION NUMBER OF SETINFORMATION AS TO EXTENT INFORMATION ABOUT VIDEO FIRST EXTENT BEGINPOSITION WHETHER COMMAND HAS ALLOCATION INFORMATION RECORDING FIRSTEXTENT SIZE BEEN RECEIVED MAP EXTENT SET BEFOREHAND ON SECOND EXTENTBEGIN POSITION THE BASIS OF ZONE BOUNDARY SECOND EXTENT SIZE POSITIONINFORMATION AND DMA INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM INFORMATION RECORDING ANDREPRODUCING DEVICE BEFORE RECORDING OF VIDEO INFORMATION GET FREE ASERIES OF AV WRITE START AV WRITE START FLAG SLOT_ID TO ISSUE ODD3SLOT_ID DECLARATION (INSTRUCT ODD3 AV WRITE END FLAG INFORMATION AS TOTO ISSUE SLOT_ID) AND END WHETHER COMMAND HAS DECLARATION (CANCEL BEENRECEIVED SLOT_ID)

TABLE 11 TABLE LISTING PARAMETERS AND RETURN VALUES FOR WRITE AV FILECOMMAND ON API IN LBN/ODD-PS WRITE AV FILE COMMAND (API) TYPE PARAMETERNAME 71 DESCRIPTION OF PARAMETERS 72 COMMAND h File NAME OF FILE TO BERECORDED (SPECIFY FILE HANDLE) PARAMETER Ip Buffer SPECIFY POINTER TOBUFFER WHICH STORES DATA TO BE 76 WRITTEN INTO FILE n Contiguous DataArea SPECIFY CONTIGUOUS DATA AREA NUMBER IN FILE . . . PARALLELRECORDING INTO MULTIPLE C.D.A. CAN BE DONE IN TIME-DIVISION. a) WHEN THENUMBER IS ALREADY PRESENT IN FILE, THIS MEANS “PARTIAL OVERWRITING INTHE SAME CONTIGUOUS DATA AREA.” b) WHEN THE NUMBER IS NOT PRESENT INFILE, THIS MEANS “CREATING NEW CONTIGUOUS DATA AREA AND RECORDING NEWDATA.” Ip Contiguous Data Area SPECIFY POINTER TO VARIABLE THAT RECEIVESTHE CONTIGUOUS DATA AREA NUMBER n Max Number Of Bytes For- INDICATE THEMAXIMUM RECORDING DATA SIZE IN CONTIGUOUS Contiguous Data Area DATA AREATO BE RECORDED. a) WHEN TARGET C.D.A IS EXISTING PLACE, THIS MEANS THEDATA SIZE OF ITS C.D.A. b) WHEN TARGET C.D.A IS NEWLY CREATED CONTIGUOUSDATA AREA, VIDEO DATA EOUAL TO OR LESS THAN THE MAXIMUM VALUE ISRECORDED. . . . FILE SYSTEM SIDE USES THE PARAMETER IN SETTINGALLOCATION. Ip Max Number-C.D.A SPECIFY POINTER TO VARIABLE THATRECEIVES THE MAXIMUM RECORDING DATA STZE n Number Of Bytes To WriteVIDEO DATA SIZE TO BE WRITTEN INTO CONTIGUOUS DATA AREA IN FILE IpNumber Of Bytes Written SPECIFY POINTER THAT RECEIVES THE VIDEO DATASIZE n Number Of Bytes Reserve UNUSED AREA SIZE ON RECORDING/REPRODUCINGAPPLICATION SIDE THAT WRITES DATA IN CONTIGUOUS DATA AREA. . . . WHENVIDEO DATA HAS RUN OUT, IT IS ADDED TO THE END OF CONTIGUOUS DATA AREA.L.B.N IS ALLOCATED FORMALLY. AT POSITIONS OTHER THAN THE END POSITION OFCONTIGUOUS DATA AREA, THE VALUE TAKES “0.” Ip Number Of Bytes ReservedSPECIFY POINTER TO VARIABLE THAT RECEIVES THE UNUSED AREA SIZE Ip OverLapped SPECIFY RECORDING START POSITION POINTER IN THE RELEVANTCONTIGUOUS DATA AREA. . . . RELATIVE ADDRESS FROM THE RELEVANTCONTIGUOUS DATA AREA BEGIN POSITION. End Flag Of Contiguous D.A RELEVANTWRITE COMMAND SHOWS LAST RECORDING IN CONTIGUOUS DATA AREA. a) FLAG = 1:INDICATES THE LAST RECORDING IN CONTIGUOUS DATA AREA. THE ACCUMULATEDVALUE OF ALL THE PRECEDING DATA BECOMES THE ACTUAL DADA SIZE INCONTIGUOUS DATA AREA AND IS REGISTERED ON FILE SYSTEM SIDE. b) FLAG = 0:INDICATES THAT IT IS FOLLOWED BY RECORDING DATA IN THE SAME CONTIGUOUSDATA AREA. RETURN n Number Of Bytes Written SIZE OF REAL DATA ACTUALLYRECORDED ON INFORMATION VALUE STORAGE MEDIUM 77 a) REAL DATA SIZECOINCIDES WITH VIDEO DATA + UNUSED SIZE → RECORDING IS COMPLETE WITHOUTPROBLEM b) REAL DATA SIZE IS SMALLER THAN VIDEO DATA + UNUSED SIZE, THISMEANS OVERFLOW OF DEFICIENCY HAS BEEN CAUSED BY DEFECTS ON INFORMATIONSTORAGE MEDIUM. . . . THE DEFICIENCY WILL START TO BE RECORDED WHENWRITE COMMAND IS EXECUTED NEXT TIME. NOTE: WHEN RECORDING/REPRODUCINGAPPLICATION SIDE SPECIFIES “SPARE AREA SIZE,” NOT ONLY THE ABOVEPARAMETER BUT ALSO “N NUMBER OF BYTES FOR SPARE AREA: SPARE SIZESPECIFIED ON RECORDING/REPRODUCING APPLICATION SIDE” ARE NEEDED.

TABLE 12 TABLE LISTING PARAMETERS AND RETURN VALUES FOR READ AV FILECOMMAND ON API IN LBN/ODD-PS READ AV FILE COMMAND (API) TYPE PARAMETERNAME 71 DESCRIPTION OF PARAMETERS 72 COMMAND h File NAME OF FILE TO BERECORDED (SPECIFY FILE HANDLE) PARAMETER Ip Buffer SPECIFY POINTER TOBUFFER THAT STORES DATA TO BE READ 76 FROM FILE n Contiguous Data AreaINDICATE CONTIGUOUS DATA AREA NUMBER IN FILE Ipm Contiguous Data AreaSPECIFY POINTER TO VARIABLE THAT RECEIVES THE CONTIGUOUS DATA AREANUMBER dw Number Of Bytes To Read SIZE OF REAL DATA REPRODUCED FROMCONTIGUOUS DATA AREA IN FILE . . . DATA IS REPRODUCED IN SUCH A MANNERTHAT DEFECTIVE PLACES IN EXTENT AND DATA IN RESERVE SPARE AREA AREREMOVED FROM THE OBJECTS TO BE REPRODUCED AND SKIPPED. Idpw Number OfBytes To SPECIFY POINTER TO VARIABLE THAT RECEIVES THE VIDEO DATA ReadSIZE Ip Over Lapped SPECIFY PLAYBACK START POSITION POINTER TO “REALDATA” IN THE RELEVANT CONTIGUOUS DATA AREA [DEFECTIVE PLACES ARE NOTCOUNTED]. RELATIVE ADDRESS FROM THE RELEVANT CONTIGUOUS DATA AREA BEGINPOSITION RETURN BOOL a) RETURN TRUE WHEN PLAYBACK IS SUCCESSFUL. VALUEb) RETURN FALSE WHEN PLAYBACK IS UNSUCCESSFUL.

TABLE 13 TABLE LISTING PARAMETERS AND RETURN VALUES FOR AV WRITE COMMANDTO ODD IN LBN/ODD-PS PARAMETER DESCRIPTION OF PARAMETERS TYPE NAME 81 82PARAMETER Initial LBN LOGICAL BLOCK NUMBER OF THE BEGIN POSITION OF AVEXTENT TO BE RECORDED Start SPECIFY RECORDING START Address POSITION INRELATIVE ADDRESS FROM AV EXTENT BEGIN POSITION Data Length SIZE OF REALDATA TO BE RECORDED Space Keep SIZE OF DATA AREA SECURED Length . . . ITCORRESPONDS TO “UNUSED AREA” ON RECORDING/REPRODUCING APPLICATION SIDE.ALTHOUGH NEITHER RECORDING OF REAL DATA NOR REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTS ISNOT DONE, ONLY PLACE IS SECURED. Restrictive ALLOWED LAST LBN IN End LBNRECORDING SPECIFY THE UPPER LIMIT OF TIMES OF SKIPPING RETURN RecordedSIZE OF REAL DATA ACTUALLY VALUE Data Length RECORDED

TABLE 14 TABLE LISTING PARAMETERS AND RETURN VALUES FOR AV READ COMMANDTO ODD IN LBN/ODD-PS PARAMETER DESCRIPTION OF PARAMETERS TYPE NAME 81 82PARAMETER Initial LBN LOGICAL BLOCK NUMBER FOR THE BEGIN POSITION OF AVEXTENT TO BE REPRODUCED Start Address SPECIFY PLAYBACK START POSITION INRELATIVE ADDRESS FROM AV EXTENT BEGIN POSITION Data Length SIZE OF REALDATA TO BE REPRODUCED → ASSUMING THAT DEFECTIVE PLACES ARE SKIPPEDRETURN Recorded Data SIZE OF REAL DATA VALUE Length ACTUALLY RECORDED

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects isnot limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shownand described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventiveconcept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information recording method for recordinginformation on an information storage medium which has a logicalstructure in which (i) an AV file is provided to store audio data orvideo data, (ii) defective area management information is provided asinformation containing information about a defective area, (iii) filemanagement information is provided to manage at least the AV file andfile entry informnation, the file entry information including at leastone allocation descriptor of extent for data allocation, and (iv) acontiguous data area (CDA) is provided, wherein the contiguous data areais set as a unit for setting data allocation, and permits skipping to beperformed, the contiguous data area has a size expressed by thefollowing formula: CDA≧STR×PTR×(Ta+Tskip+Tpc)/(PTR−STR) wherein STR isan average transmission rate of a control section, PTR is a physicaltransmission rate, Ta is an average access time of accessing operationsin each of which reading means accesses a recording area on aninformation storage medium, Tskip is a total time required for passingthrough a skipping process in the contiguous data area, and Tpc is atotal access time required for avoiding a PC file or defective area inthe contiguous data area, the information recording method comprisingthe steps of: searching for an unrecorded area on the informationstorage medium; setting an area to be recorded in the unrecorded areabased on the contiguous data area; setting extent portions in the areato be recorded, in such a manner as to avoid areas other than the AVfile; and recording AV data.
 2. An information recording methodaccording to claim 1, wherein data stored in areas other than the AVfile is data of a personal computer (PC) file.
 3. An informationrecording/reproducing apparatus configured to record and reproduceinformation recorded on an information recording medium, the informationrecording medium configured to store AV data and file managementinformation, the information recording medium having a logical structurein which (i) an AV file is provided to store audio data or video data,(ii) defective area management information is provided as informationcontaining information about a defective area, (iii) file managementinformation is provided to manage at least the AV file and file entryinformation, the file entry information including at least oneallocation descriptor of extent for data allocation, and (iv) acontiguous data area (CDA) is provided, wherein the contiguous data areais set as a unit for setting data allocation, and permits skipping to beperformed, the contiguous data area has a size expressed by thefollowing formula: CDA>STR×PTR×(Ta+Tskip+Tpc)/(PTR−STR) wherein STR isan average transmission rate of a control section, PTR is a physicaltransmission rate, Ta is an average access time of accessing operationsin each of which reading means accesses a recording area on aninformation storage medium, Tskip is a total time required for passingthrough a skipping process in the contiguous data area, and Tpc is atotal access time required for avoiding a PC file or defective area inthe contiguous data area, the information recording/reproducingapparatus further comprising: means for searching for an unrecorded areaon the information storage medium; means for setting an area to berecorded in the unrecorded area based on the contiguous data area; meansfor setting extent portions in the area to be recorded, in such a manneras to avoid areas other than the AV file; means for recording AV data;and means for reproducing the recorded AV data.
 4. An informationrecording apparatus for recording information on an information storagemedium which has a logical structure in which (i) an AV file is providedto store audio data or video data, (ii) defective area managementinformation is provided as information containing information about adefective area, (iii) file management information is provided to manageat least the AV file and file entry information, the file entryinformation including at least one allocation descriptor of extent fordata allocation, and (iv) a contiguous data area (CDA) is provided,wherein the contiguous data area is set as a unit for setting dataallocation, and permits skipping to be performed, the contiguous dataarea has a size expressed by the following formula,CDA≧STR×PTR×(Ta+Tskip+Tpc)/(PTR−STR) where STR is an averagetransmission rate of a control section, PTR is a physical transmissionrate, Ta is an average access time of accessing operations in each ofwhich reading means accesses a recording area on the information storagemedium, Tskip a total time required for passing through a skippingprocess in the contiguous data area, and Tpc is a total access timerequired for avoiding a PC file or defective areas in the contiguousdata area, the information recording apparatus comprising: means forsearching for an unrecorded area on the information storage medium;means for setting an area to be recorded in the unrecorded area based onthe contiguous data area; means for setting extent portions in the areato be recorded, in such a manner as to avoid areas other than the AVfile; and means for recording AV data.
 5. An information recordingmedium configured to store the AV data and the file managementinformation obtained by the recording apparatus as defined by claim 4.6. An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing the AV data andthe file management information recorded on the information recordingmedium as defined by claim
 5. 7. An information recording mediumconfigured to have recorded thereon information based on (i) an AV filefor storing audio data or video data, (ii) defective area managementinformation containing information about a defective area, (iii) filemanagement information for managing at least the AV file and file entryinformation, the file entry information including at least oneallocation descriptor of extent for data allocation, and (iv) acontiguous data area (CDA), wherein the contiguous data area is set as aunit for setting data allocation, and permits skipping to be performed,the contiguous data area has a size expressed by the following formula:CDA≧STR×PTR×(Ta+Tskip+Tpc)/(PTR−STR) where STR is an averagetransmission rate of a control section, PTR is a physical transmissionrate, Ta is an average access time of accessing operations in each ofwhich reading means accesses a recording area on the information storagemedium, Tskip is a total time required for passing through a skippingprocess in the contiguous data area, and Tpc is a total access timerequired for avoiding a PC file or defective areas in the contiguousdata area.
 8. A method for recording information on an informationstorage medium, the information storage medium having a logicalstructure wherein (i) an AV file is provided to store audio data orvideo data, (ii) defective area management information for identifyingdefective areas, (iii) file management information for managing at leastthe AV file and file entry information, and (iv) a contiguous data areais set as a unit for setting data allocation and permitting skipping tobe performed, the contiguous data area having a size defined byCDA≧STR×PTR×(Ta+Tskip+Tpc)/(PTR−STR) wherein STR is an averagetransmission rate of a control section, PTR is a physical transmissionrate, Ta is an average access time of accessing operations in each ofwhich reading means accesses a recording area on an information storagemedium, Tskip is a total time required for passing through a skippingprocess in the contiguous data area, and Tpc is a total access timerequired for avoiding a PC file or defective areas in the contiguousdata area, the information recording method comprising the steps of:searching for an unrecorded area on the information storage medium;setting an area to be recorded in the unrecorded area based on thecontiguous data area; setting extent portions in the area to berecorded, in such a manner as to avoid areas other than the AV file; andrecording AV data.
 9. An information recording method comprising thesteps of: searching for an unrecorded area on an information storagemedium; setting an area to be recorded in the unrecorded area based on acontiguous data area; setting extent portions in the area to berecorded, in such a manner as to avoid areas other than an AV file; andrecording AV data; wherein the contiguous data area having a sizedefined by CDA≧STR×PTR×(Ta+Tskip+Tpc)/(PTR−STR) wherein STR is anaverage transmission rate of a control section, PTR is a physicaltransmission rate, Ta is an average access time of accessing operationsin each of which reading means accesses a recording area on aninformation storage medium, Tskip is a total time required for passingthrough a skipping process in the contiguous data area, and Tpc is timea total access time required for avoiding a PC file or defective areasin the contiguous data area.